SENIOR VOICE RECITAL
Shannon Shepherd soprano Monica Adams, collaborative piano
Friday, September 18, 2026 7:30 pm Recital Hall
3RD PERFORMANCE OF 2026–27 ACADEMIC YEAR
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026, 7:30 PM Dominick Argento (1927–2019)
5′
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
5′
Gaetano Donizetti (1779–1848)
3′
Nuit d’étoiles (1880)
Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
3′
Le violon, from Fiançailles pour rire (Betrothal for Laughs) (1939)
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
2′
Gustave Charpentier (1860–1956)
4′
I Cain't Say No, from Oklahoma! (1943)
Richard Rodgers (1902–1979)
3′
Mister Snow, from Carousel (1945)
Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) arr. Mark Phillips
3′
Sara Baraellis (b. 1979)
4′
Six Elizabethan Songs (1957) Spring Sleep Piangerò la sorte mia, from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt) (1724)
Prendi per me sei libero, from L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) (1832)
Depuis le jour, from Louise (1900)
When He Sees Me, from Waitress (2016)
View a digital version of this program at issuu.com/MusicatPacific
PROGRAM NOTES Program notes by Shannon Shepherd Argento: Six Elizabethan Songs Six Elizabethan Songs is a song cycle composed by Dominick Argento and based on texts from the Elizabethan era. Argento is known for his operatic and choral music incorporating a lyrical style with atonal and twelve-tone techniques. “Spring” is a short piece praising the beauty of Springtime during the Elizabethan era. Images include “maids dance in a ring,” “the shepherd pipes all day,” and bird calls such as “too wit ah woo.” “Sleep” is a somber piece whose meaning is up to interpretation. With its haunting atonal sound, it relates sleep to death as an escape from the cruelties of the living world. Handel: Piangerò la sorte mia “Piangerò la sorte mia” is an Italian aria from the opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt). In the aria, Cleopatra laments the supposed death of her lover Caesar in a song of self-pity and anger towards the tyrant Tolomeo. It is divided into slow (largo) and fast (allegro) sections to express these complicated emotions. Donizetti: Prendi per me sei libero “Prendi per me sei libero” is a soprano aria from the Italian opera L’Elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love). It is sung by Adina, a wealthy landowner who realizes that the peasant Nemorino’s affections for her are true. It represents a vital point in the opera as Adina expresses her true feelings and wants to free Nemorino from his military obligation. Debussy: Nuit d’étoiles Based on the poem by Théodore de Banville, Nuit d’étoiles is a short French art song with lyre-like piano accompaniment comparing the beauty of the night to that of a lost love. It was written by Debussy for a voice teacher when he was only 18 years old. Poulenc: Le violon "Le violon" is a beautiful French art song comparing an amorous couple to the luxurious sound of a violin.
PROGRAM NOTES Charpentier: Depuis le Jour From the opera Louise, “Depuis le Jour” is a lyrical song of love and newfound happiness. Louise expresses how happy she is living with her lover, the poet Julien, compared to living with her socialist, working-class family. Rodgers: I Cain’t Say No From the musical Oklahoma!, “I Cain’t Say No” is a whimsical song about a girl who just “cain’t” say no to anyone! She acts “refine and cool” until a cute guy shows up, then it's game over! Rodgers: Mister Snow In the song “Mister Snow” from the beloved musical Carousel, a young woman named Carrie tells her friend about her wonderful new lover, Mister Snow. He may not be perfect, but she loves him and can’t wait to marry him! This song was performed live by the Pacific Opera Theatre in their March 2025 production. Baraellis: When He Sees Me In the song “When He Sees Me,” a waitress named Dawn expresses to her friends her feelings about dating. She wants to date but at the same time is afraid of what could go wrong. It comes from the critically acclaimed musical, Waitress.
This recital is presented as a degree requirement for a Bachelor of Music in music education Shannon Shepherd is a third-year transfer student in music education studying voice with Professor Heidi Moss-Erickson at University of the Pacific. Shepherd has worked with students in the Stockton, Lincoln, and Lodi unified school districts and will be finishing up her degree in fall 2026. In the future she plans to perform and teach locally in the private and public sectors.
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Argento: Spring Spring, the sweet Spring, is the year's pleasant king; Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! The palm and may make country houses gay Lambs frisk and play, the shepherd pipes all day And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit In every street these tunes our ears do greet Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! Spring! The sweet Spring! —Thomas Nashe Argento: Sleep Care-charmer Sleep, son of the sable Night Brother to Death, in silent darkness born Relieve my anguish and restore thy light With dark forgetting of my cares, return; And let the day be time enough to mourn The shipwreck of my ill-adventur'd youth: Let waking eyes suffice to wail their scorn Without the torment of the night’s untruth Cease, dreams, th' images of day-desires To model forth the passions of the morrow; Never let rising sun approve you liars To add more grief to aggravate my sorrow Still let me sleep, embracing clouds in vain; And never wake to feel the day's disdain —Samuel Daniel
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Handel: Piangerò la sorte mia Piangerò la sorte mia sì crudele e tanto ria finché vita in petto avrò. Ma poi morta d'ogn'intorno il tiranno e notte e giorno fatta spettro agiterò. —Nicola Francesco Haym
Handel: I shall weep over my cruel fate I shall weep over my cruel fate so long as there remains life in my breast. But once I have perished, I shall become a ghost and torment that tyrant from all directions, day and night. —trans. Lieder.net
Donizetti: Prendi per me sei libero
Donizetti: Take, for me you are free
Prendi; per me sei libero: Resta nel suol natio, Non v'ha destin sì rio, Che non si cangi un dì. Resta! Qui, dove tutti t'amano, Saggio, amoroso, onesto, Sempre scontento e mesto No, non sarai così. —Felice Romani
Take, for me you are free Stay in your native land No destiny is so evil That cannot change one day. Stay! Here, where everyone loves you Wise, loving and honest Always unhappy and sad You will not be like that! —trans. Opera-Arias.com
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Debussy: Nuit d’étoiles
Debussy: Night of Stars
Nuit d’étoiles, Sous tes voiles, Sous ta brise et tes parfums, Triste lyre Qui soupire, Je rêve aux amours défunts.
Night of stars, Beneath your veils, beneath your breeze and fragrance, Sad lyre That sighs, I dream of bygone loves.
La sereine mélancolie Vient éclore au fond de mon cœur, Et j’entends l’âme de ma mie Tressaillir dans le bois rêveur.
Serene melancholy Now blooms deep in my heart, And I hear the soul of my love Quiver in the dreaming woods.
Nuit d’étoiles . . .
Night of stars . . .
Je revois à notre fontaine Tes regards bleus comme les cieux; Cette rose, c’est ton haleine, Et ces étoiles sont tes yeux.
Once more at our fountain I see Your eyes as blue as the sky; This rose is your breath And these stars are your eyes.
Nuit d’étoiles . . . —Théodore de Banville
Night of stars . . . —trans. Richard Strokes
Poulenc: Le violon
Poulenc: The Violin
Couple amoureux aux accents méconnus Le violon et son joueur me plaisent. Ah! j'aime ces gémissements tendus Sur la corde des malaises. Aux accords sur les cordes des pendus À l'heure où les Lois se taisent Le coeur en forme de fraise S'offre à l'amour comme un fruit inconnu. —Louise de Vilmorin
Amorous couple of unknown accents, The violin and his player please me. Ah! I love these taut moanings on the chord of malaises. To the chords [played] on the cords of the hanged, in the hour where the Law hushes, the heart, in the form of a strawberry offers itself to love like an unknown fruit. —trans. Laura Claycomb
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Charpentier: Depuis le jour
Charpentier: Since the Day
Depuis le jour où je me suis donnée, toute fleurie semble ma destinée. Je crois rêver sous un ciel de féérie, l'âme encore grisée de ton premier baiser! Quelle belle vie! Mon rêve n'était pas un rêve! Ah! je suis heureuse! L'amour étend sur moi ses ailes! Au jardin de mon cœur chante une joie nouvelle!
Since the day I gave myself my destiny seems all flower-strewn I think I'm dreaming under a fairy sky my soul still intoxicated by your first kiss! What a beautiful life! My dream wasn't a dream! Oh! I'm so happy! Love is spreading its wings over me! In the garden of my heart sings a new joy!
Tout vibre, tout se réjouit de mon triomphe! Autour de moi tout est sourire, lumiére et joie! Et je tremble délicieusement Au souvenir charmant Du premier jour D’amour!
Everything is vibrant Everything rejoices at my triumph! All around me everything is smiling light and joy! And I'm trembling delightfully from the charming memory of the first day of love!
Quelle belle vie! Ah! Je suis heureuse! Trop heureuse… Et je tremble délicieusement Au souvenir charmant Du premier jour D’amour! —Gustave Charpentier
What a beautiful life! Oh! I'm so happy!...utterly happy And I’m trembling delightfully From the charming memory Of the first day of love! —trans. lyricstranslate.com
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Rodgers: I Cain’t Say No It ain't so much a question of not knowin' what to do I knowed what's right an' wrong since I been ten. I heared a lot of stories an' I reckon they are true About how girls are put upon by men. I know I mustn't fall into the pit But when I'm with a feller, I fergit! I'm jist a girl who cain't say 'No' I'm in a terrible fix! I always say 'Come on, let's go' just when I oughta say 'Nix.' When a person tries to kiss a girl I know she oughta give his face a smack! But as soon as someone kisses me I somehow sorta wanna kiss him back! I'm just a fool when lights are low I cain't be prissy an' quaint I ain't the type that can faint How can I be what I ain't? I cain't say 'No!' Whatcha gonna do when a feller gets flirty An' starts to talk purty Whatcha gonna do? Sposin' that he says That your lips are like cherries, Or roses, or berries? Whatcha gonna do? Sposin' that he says That yer sweeter 'n cream and he's gotta have cream or die? Whatcha gonna do when he talks that way? Spit in his eye? I'm jist a girl who cain't say 'No', Cain't seem to say it at all I hate to disserpoint a beau When he is payin' a call! Fer a while I ack refined and cool, A settin on the velveteen setee Nen I think of thet ol' Golden Rule, And do fer him what he would do fer me!
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS I cain't resist a Romeo In a sombrero and chaps Soon as I sit on their laps Somethin' inside of me snaps I cain't say 'No'!
—Oscar Hammerstein II
Rodgers: Mister Snow His name is Mister Snow, And an up-standed man is he. He comes home every night in his round-bottomed boat, With a net full of herring from the sea. An almost perfect beau, As refined as a girl could wish. But he spends so much time in his round-bottomed boat That he can't seem to lose the smell of fish. The first time he kissed me the whiff from his clothes Knocked me flat on the floor of the room. But now that I love him, my heart's in my nose And fish is my fav'rite perfume! Last night he spoke quite low, And a fair-spoken man is he. And he said "Miss Pipperidge, I'd like it fine If I could be wed with a wife. And indeed, Miss Pipperidge, if you'll be mine, I'll be yours for the rest of my life." Next moment we were promised, And now my mind's in a maze. For all it can do is look forward to That wonderful day of days! When I marry Mister Snow The flowers'll be buzzin' with the hum of bees The birds'll make racket in the church yard trees When I marry Mister Snow Then it's off to home we'll go. And both of us'll look a little dreamy-eyed A driving to a cottage by the Oceanside Where the salty breezes blow. He'll carry me 'cross the threshold, And I'll be as meek as a lamb.
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Then he'll set me on my feet, And I'll say kinda sweet, "Well, Mister Snow, here I am." Then I'll kiss him so he'll know That evry'thin'll be as right as right can be A living in a cottage by the sea with me For I love that Mister Snow. That young sea-faring, Bold and daring, Big bewhiskered, overbearing Darling Mister Snow —Oscar Hammerstein II Baraellis: When he sees me I stick with real things, Usually facts and figures. When information's in its place, I minimize the guessing game. Guess what? I don't like guessing games. Or when I feel things, Before I know the feelings. How am i supposed to operate, If I'm just tossed around by fate? Like on an unexpected date? With a stranger who might talk too fast, Or ask me questions about myself, Before I've decided that, He can ask me questions about myself. He might sit too close. Or call the waiter by his first name, Or eat oreos, But eat the cookie before the cream But what scares me the most, What scares me the most… Is what if when he sees me, what if he doesn't like it? What if he runs the other way and I can't hide from it? What happens then? If when he knows me, he's only disappointed? What if I give myself away, to only get it given back? I couldn't live with that.
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS So, I'm just fine, inside my shell-shaped mind. This way I get the best view. So that when he sees me, I want him to. I'm not defensive! I'm simply being cautious. I can't risk reckless dating, Due to my miscalculating why A certain suitor stands in line I've seen in movies, Most made for television, You cannot be too careful, When it comes to sharing your life. I could end up a miserable wife. Sorry girls, But he could be criminal! some sort of psychopath Who escaped from an institution, Somewhere where they don't have girls. He could have masterminded some way to find me. He could be colorblind! How untrustworthy is that. He could be less than kind. Or even worse he could be very nice, have lovely eyes. And make me laugh, come out of hiding. What do I do with that? Oh, god. What if when he sees me, I like him and he knows it? What if he opens up a door, And I can't close it? What happens then? If when he holds me, My heart is set in motion, I'm not prepared for that. I'm scared of breaking open. But still I can't help from hoping, To find someone to talk to, Who likes the way I am. Someone who when he sees me, Wants to again!
—Sara Baraellis