Isaiah Elben Senior Recital
April 25, 2026 7PM HMUS101
Collinsworth School of Performing Arts
Isaiah Elben, voice
Fred Carama/ Dr. Jennifer Cruz/ Caleb Hebert, piano
Die Zauberflöte K. 620, No. 2: Song
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja) (1756-1791)
Die Zauberflöte K. 620, No. 20: Aria (Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48
Robert Schumann
I. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai (1810-1856)
II. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen
III. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
IV. Wenn ich in deine Augen she
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen, D. 774
Erlkönig, D. 328
Banalités, FP 107
Franz Schubert (1797- 1828)
Francis Poulenc
I. Chanson d’ Orkenise (1899- 1963)
II. Hôtel
III. Fagnes de Wallonie
IV. Voyage à Paris
Intermission
Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific)
If I Can’t Love Her
Rodgers and Hammerstein (1902-1979, 1895-1960)
Alan Menken (b. 1949)
Stars Claude-Michel Schönberg (b. 1944)
The Prayer
Psalm 23
As The Deer
David Foster (b. 1949)
Phil Whickham (b. 1984)
Martin J. Nystrom (b. 1956)
ARTIST
Isaiah Elben is a graduating senior at California Baptist University’s Collinsworth School of Performing Arts, where he performs with University Choir and Orchestra, Camerata, and Opera Theater. This spring he performed as Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and last year appeared as Marco in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. In high school, he participated in nine theater productions, including lead roles such as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde, Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray, and Dennis in All Shook Up. In 2020, his theater company advanced to the Georgia State One Act Competition, where he played Colonel Mustard in . In 2021, his quartet placed second in the All-State GHSA Private Literary Competition. Isaiah now assists in leading worship at Chino Valley Community Church. He will complete a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and begin a Master of Arts in Worship
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Firstly, I thank God, who has given me this gift of the voice. It is him alone I give glory to when I use this gift, and I thank him for guiding me through every step of this journey. Without him, I can do nothing. Secondly, I want to thank my parents and family. I am unfathomably grateful for all your endless support as I navigate my musical journey at CBU. To my mom, who has always given me the best life advice for any situation, and to my dad, who helps me continue to grow into a better man of God every day. To my grandparents, who have always supported and encouraged me in whatever I have endeavored to do. I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you, and words cannot express how thankful I am for your encouragement and contributions! I also want to thank you for always showing up to support me in my concerts and shows, not only in college but throughout my life, from my choir concerts in elementary school to my theater performances in high school. Thirdly, I want to thank my teachers and professors, especially Professor Carama, who helped me grow in my voice immensely this year.
This recital is presented under the direction of Professor Fred Carama in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the B.M. in Vocal Performance.
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS
Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja – I am the Bird catcher
I am the birdcatcher, Always bright and merry, tra la!
I the birdcatcher am well known To young and old throughout the land. I know how to set traps, And know how to play my pipes. That’s why I can be happy and merry, For all these birds belong to me.
I am the birdcatcher, Always bright and merry, tra la!
I the birdcatcher am well known To young and old throughout the land. I’d like a net for catching girls, I’d catch them by the dozen for me! Then I’d lock them up in my house, And all the girls would belong to me.
If all the girls belonged to me, I’d barter them for sugar, And give that sugar straightaway To the one who pleased me most. And if she were to give me a tender kiss, She’d be my wife and I her husband. She’d fall asleep by my side, I’d cradle her like a child.
Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen – A Girl or a Little Wife
A girl or a little wife is what Papageno desires.
Oh, a sweet little dove like that would be bliss for me!
Then I should drink and eat with relish, then I could hold my own with princes, enjoy life in my wisdom, and be as if in Elysium.
A girl or a little wife is what Papageno desires.
Oh, a sweet little dove like that would be bliss for me!
Ah, can't I find one, then, amongst all the lovely girls, who would like me? Let just one help me out of my misery, or I shall truly die of grief.
A girl or a little wife is what Papageno desires. Oh, a sweet little dove like that would be bliss for me! If no one will ooer me love, then the fire must consume me, but if a woman's lips kiss me I shall be well again straightaway! Im wunderschönen Monat Mai – In the wondrous month of May
In the wondrous month of May, When all the buds burst into bloom, Then it was that in my heart Love began to burgeon.
In the wondrous month of May, When all the birds were singing, Then it was I confessed to her My longing and desire.
Aus meinen Tränen sprießen – For my tears there will spring
From my tears there will spring Many blossoming flowers, And my sighs shall become A chorus of nightingales.
And if you love me, child, I’ll give you all the flowers, And at your window shall sound The nightingale’s song.
Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne – Rose, Lily, Dove, Sun
Rose, lily, dove, sun, I loved them all once in the bliss of love. I love them no more, I only love She who is small, fine, pure, rare; She, most blissful of all loves, Is rose and lily and dove and sun.
Wenn ich in deine Augen she – When I Look Into Your Eyes
When I look into your eyes, All my pain and sorrow vanish; But when I kiss your lips, Then I am wholly healed.
When I lay my head against your breast, Heavenly bliss steals over me; But when you say: I love you! I must weep bitter tears.
Chanson d’ Orkenise – Song of Orkenise
Through the gates of Orkenise
A waggoner wants to enter. Through the gates of Orkenise
A vagabond wants to leave.
And the sentries guarding the town Rush up to the vagabond: 'What are you taking from the town?' 'I'm leaving my whole heart behind.'
And the sentries guarding the town Rush up to the waggoner: 'What are you carrying into the town?' 'My heart in order to marry.'
So many hearts in Orkenise!
The sentries laughed and laughed: Vagabond, the road's not merry, Love makes you merry, O waggoner!
The handsome sentries guarding the town Knitted vaingloriously; The gates of the town then Slowly closed.
Hôtel - Hotel
My room is shaped like a cage The sun slips its arm through the window But I who want to smoke to make mirages
I light my cigarette on daylight's fire I do not want to work I want to smoke
Fagnes de Wallonie – Walloon moss-hags
So much utter sadness
Seized my heart in the desolate upland moss-hags. When weary, I set down in the fir plantation. The weight of kilometers, to the roar
Of the west wind.
I had left the pretty wood; The squirrels stayed there. My pipe tried to make clouds in the sky, Which stubbornly stayed clear.
I confided no secret but an enigmatic song
To the dank peatbogs.
The honey-fragrant heather
Attracted the bees,
And my sore feet, Crushed bilberries and whortleberries. Tenderly united, North, North, Life is gnarled there.
In strong trees and twisted life, There bites death, Voraciously, When the wind howls.
Voyage à Paris – Trip to Paris
Oh! how delightful
To leave a dismal Place for Paris
Charming Paris
That one day
Love must have made
Auf dem Wasser zu singen – To be sung on the water
Amid the shimmer of the mirroring waves the rocking boat glides, swan-like, on gently shimmering waves of joy.
The soul, too, glides like a boat. For from the sky the setting sun dances upon the waves around the boat.
Above the tree-tops of the western grove the red glow beckons kindly to us; beneath the branches of the eastern grove the reeds whisper in the red glow. The soul breathes the joy of heaven, the peace of the grove, in the reddening glow.
Alas, with dewy wings time vanishes from me on the rocking waves. Tomorrow let time again vanish with shimmering wings, as it did yesterday and today, until, on higher, more radiant wings, I myself vanish from the flux of time.
Erlkönig – The Erlking
Who rides so late through the night and wind?
It is the father with his child. He has the boy in his arms; he holds him safely, he keeps him warm.
‘My son, why do you hide your face in fear?’ ‘Father, can you not see the Erlking? The Erlking with his crown and tail?’ ‘My son, it is a streak of mist.’
‘Sweet child, come with me. I’ll play wonderful games with you. Many a pretty flower grows on the shore; my mother has many a golden robe.’
‘Father, father, do you not hear what the Erlking softly promises me?’ ‘Calm, be calm, my child: the wind is rustling in the withered leaves.’
‘Won’t you come with me, my fine lad? My daughters shall wait upon you; my daughters lead the nightly dance, and will rock you, and dance, and sing you to sleep.’
‘Father, father, can you not see Erlking’s daughters there in the darkness?’
‘My son, my son, I can see clearly: it is the old grey willows gleaming.’
‘I love you, your fair form allures me, and if you don’t come willingly, I’ll use force.’ ‘Father, father, now he’s seizing me! The Erlking has hurt me!’
The father shudders, he rides swiftly, he holds the moaning child in his arms; with one last eoort he reaches home; the child lay dead in his arms.
