Opera Resident Artist Recital: Victoria Vargas, Mezzo-Soprano; James Barnett, piano

Uplifting Voices of the British Isles: 
a recital featuring underrepresented voices in the English Art Song repertoire

Victoria Vargas, mezzo-soprano 
James Barnett, Piano

PROGRAM

Three Songs                                                     Ethel Symth (1858-1944)

1. The Clown
2. Possession
3. On The Road

The Seal Man                                                    Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979)

a brief pause

Six Sorrow Songs                                              Samuel Coleridge Taylor (1875-1912)

1. Oh what comes over the sea
2. When I am dead, my dearest
3. Oh roses for the flush of youth
4. She sat and sang alway
5. Unmindful of the roses
6. Too late for love

Daedalus                                                          Errollyn Wallen (b. 1958

Jesus On A Train

North

Bios:

Victoria Vargas

Mezzo-soprano Victoria Vargas has sung over twenty five roles for the Minnesota Opera and has performed with Opera Theater of Saint Louis, Chautauqua Opera, Sarasota Opera, Ash Lawn Highland Festival and others. Concert credits include performing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (NY), Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (MN), Chautauqua Symphony, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, South Dakota Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, Billings Symphony, Bach Society of Minnesota and Minnesota Orchestra. She has placed seven times at the formerly titled Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions at both the district and regional levels, was a finalist at the Irene Dalis competition through Opera San Jose, and placed at the Schubert Club Competition. Her recent works include a workshop of the new work Generación Perdida by composer Jorge Sosa at the Opera America Center in New York City, and a recital tour of female Irish and British composers. In the 2024 season

Ms. Vargas can be seen singing as a soloist in Samuel Colredige Taylor’s Kubla Kahn with the Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette for Minnesota Opera, and singing Handel’s Messiah for the Sheboygan Symphony. In addition, she will be releasing an album titled Amy Levy: Songs of Love and Loss, a new song cycle composed for her by Alex Lubet, based on the poetry of Amy Levy. Ms. Vargas is currently an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Minnesota. More can be found at victoriavargasmezzo.com.

James Barnett

A leading producer of Twin Cities recital programming, James Barnett is dedicated to bringing new and forgotten music to the next generation of audiences. He was the founding Artistic Director of LOFTrecital where he served in that role for 9 seasons, curating over 50 unique programs. Barnett has been a featured pianist with many companies and academic institutions across the country, including the De Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota Opera, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, the University of Minnesota, Grand Valley State University, Up North Vocal Institute, and OperaNEO. He is currently artistic director of Skylark Opera Theatre. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota.