Graduation concert Performance - April 2025

I am honoured to share two poignant pieces that I performed for my graduation concert, each rich in cultural heritage and emotional depth.

"The Indian Bell Song" (Où va la jeune Hindoue) – from Lakmé by Léo Delibes

Set in British-ruled India, Delibes' 1883 opera Lakmé tells the tragic tale of Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, who falls in love with a British officer, Gérald. In Act II, Lakmé performs "The Bell Song," a challenging coloratura aria, as part of a plan devised by her father to reveal her secret admirer. The aria narrates a legend of a pariah's daughter who saves a divine being, symbolising themes of forbidden love and sacrifice. ​

"Ya liv pole da ne travushka byla" (Was I Not a Blade of Grass in the Field) – Russian Folk Song

This traditional Russian folk song, "The Bride’s Lament," is a melancholic reflection of a young woman's sorrow over an arranged marriage. Through metaphors of nature—being cut like grass or broken like a guelder rose—the song expresses her grief and loss of freedom. The lyrics, penned by poet Ivan Zakharovich Surikov, have been set to music by various composers, including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. ​

Though from different cultures, these pieces explore the depths of love, loss, and longing. I hope my interpretations resonate with you.

Thank you for watching and supporting my musical journey! 💖