Baylor Music Faculty Observe Hugo Wolf Centennial

October 15, 2003

by Richard Veit

Members of the Baylor University music faculty will mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Austrian composer Hugo Wolf with "Lieder of Hugo Wolf: A Centennial Celebration" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, in Roxy Grove Hall.
Wolf was 42 when he died in Vienna on Feb. 22, 1903. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest masters of German-language art songs or Lieder.
The program will begin with opening remarks by Dr. Carolyn Backus, professor of vocal studies, on "Hugo Wolf: Marching to a Different Drummer." Backus' talk will be followed by selections from Wolf's Poems of Eduard of Mörike, performed by baritone Robert Best, assistant professor of voice, and mezzo-soprano Deidra Palmour, visiting associate professor of voice. They will be accompanied by Dr. Elvia Puccinelli, assistant professor of piano.
Baritone John Van Cura, professor of vocal studies, will perform selections from Wolf's Poems of Goethe, along with his wife, pianist Kim Van Cura. Palmour and Puccinelli will present that collection's "Mignon" (or "Kennst du das Land?").
Soprano Deborah Williamson, assistant professor of voice, and baritone Jack Coldiron, the Brown Visiting Professor of Voice, will sing a group of nine piece from Wolf's Italian Songbook, one of the most famous of all song cycles. They will be accompanied by Puccinelli, with narration from Palmour and Best.
The program will conclude with a performance of Wolf's Three Poems of Michelangelo with bass Daniel Scott, associate professor vocal studies, and his wife, pianist Doris Scott.
The recital is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.