COVID-19 concert series -
“We'll Gather Lilacs”
from Perchance to Dream
by Ivor Novello
Performed by Lillian Brooks, mezzo-soprano
and Kimberley-Ann Bartczak, accompanist
Recorded live on March 30, 2020 at the Mamdani Opera Centre
Filmed and edited by Marc Lavallée
The multi-talented Welshman Ivor Novello (1893-1951) was one of the most famous British entertainers of the early 20th century. He first gained renown as a composer with the World War I song, "Keep the Home Fires Burning", before turning his talents to writing and appearing in numerous plays, musicals, and operettas.
During the 1920s he was the most popular male star in British silent films which included a celebrated role in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger. One of his last musicals Perchance to Dream (1945) is a romantic epic encompassing the story of a single family over three centuries. It became his greatest hit show, running for 1,022 performances.
Although you're far away
And life is sad and grey
I have a scheme, a dream to try
I'm thinking, dear, of you
And all I mean to do
When we're together, you and I
We’ll soon forget our care and pain
And find such lovely things to share again.
We'll gather lilacs in the spring again
And walk together down a shady lane
Until our hearts have learned to sing again
When you come home once more
Your eyes will tell me all I want to know
When you come home once more
We’ll learn to love anew
The simple joys we knew
And shared together night and day
We’ll watch without a sigh
The moments speeding by
When life is free and hearts are gay
My dream is here for you to share
And in my heart
That dream becomes a prayer
ABOUT THE SERIES
Like so many of you, as we face the daily challenges that grip the entire world as a result of COVID-19 we find ourselves looking for small moments of joy, connection and comfort. Whether it's a listening to a sonnet, watching a funny video, doing yoga, or baking bread, these acts are gifts that soothe those parts of us that are suffering, and help us to brave another day marked by uncertainty, loneliness and loss.
In recent weeks, a bright spot for us has been the incredible conversations we've had with our patrons while processing exchanges, refunds and donations from cancelled performances in our 2019-20 season. Hearing so many stories about how the gift of opera found its way into your lives and just how much the music continues to mean to so many people has brought us a renewed sense of purpose, and anticipation for the day we are able to come together to experience it again.
If you have a story you'd like to share, we hope you will. You can do so either in the comments below or by e-mail at [email protected].
For our performers, in addition to being their profession, making music is also a great source of comfort and we've worked with our 2019-20 Emerging Artists and our incredible Resident Conductor and Repetiteur Kimberley-Ann Bartczak to create a series of short videos that feature them performing musical selections that bring them hope and optimism.
We’ll be releasing a new video every Tuesday and Thursday for the next few months, so please follow our channel to receive notices when new videos are released. Enjoy!
You can also find links to all the videos and a special introduction by Artistic Director Bramwell Tovey and Resident Conductor and Repetiteur Kimberley-Ann Bartczak here: https://calgaryopera.com/news/thegift....