Join contralto Melissa Elsman (our newest voice faculty) and pianist Kathryn Southworth for Part Two of this lecture–recital exploring the life and music of nineteenth-century Parisian composer Augusta Holmès. Denied access to the Paris Conservatory like her male peers, Holmès persuaded César Franck to take her on as a private student. “She arouses in me the most unspiritual desires,” her composition instructor is famously quoted as saying. Yet Holmès’s brilliance extended far beyond her presence: during her studies with Franck, she began composing large-scale works—an endeavor considered forbidden for women of her time.
The program examines the height of her fame, including the commission of her monumental Ode Triumphale to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution, which premiered in 1889 at the Palais de l’Industrie with 1,200 musicians. This is followed by the profound hardships she faced, both professionally and personally, which left her financially strained. Despite these challenges, Holmès remained resilient, turning toward spirituality and maintaining hope and optimism. Selected songs from her Twenty Melodies will be performed to reflect the struggles she endured, alongside selections from her Divine Tales, which showcase her enduring strength and devotion to the divine.
Bios:
Melissa Elsman (voice), classical singer and music educator, holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts. She continues her studies with renowned countertenor Mark Crayton. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Melissa teaches voice to children and adults from beginner to advanced levels, in a variety of styles including classical, musical theater, and popular music. An active performer with over 20 years of experience, Melissa’s repertoire spans from art song to opera, with a special interest in lesser-known works. She has produced and performed lecture-recitals, including La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Remarkable Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, which she has toured both locally and in Chicago.
Kathryn Southworth (piano department co-chair, piano, performance workshops, Canterbury Singers) holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman and served as a musical ambassador to Costa Rica with soprano Ollie Watts Davis. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.
Bach’s Lunches are free and open to the public. They are made possible in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.
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