Rosie Watts
Rosie is a performer at heart and is passionate about classical music. Through this passion, and the opportunity to discover other art forms during her degree, Rosie has begun to branch into other sectors of the industry. Directing, in particular, has become a passion and successful element she has explored, having directed her first production 'I Hate Music- or do I?' in January 2022. This production is now being prepared for the Edinburgh Fringe (2023) and a national tour (2024). Rosie is excited to develop her directing skills and see where this leads her.
I Hate Music- or do I?
I Hate Music- or do I? is a devised performance of opera and classical song, aimed at introducing the classical arts in an accessible, engaging and interactive way.
Devised, Directed, Designed & Produced by Rosie Watts as part of her undergraduate degree major project.
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Opening Night:
Monday 31st January 2022, 7pm, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Synopsis:
The four siblings are meant to be getting ready for bed, but they are hyper and want to play instead. Rosy begins singing her dolly to sleep and it confuses her siblings as they have never heard music like it. She explains that their mother gifted her a storybook about classical music and opera and she learnt it from there. From here, the siblings decide to read the book, launching them into a wonderful journey through opera and song. Rosy is trying to convince them that classical music is fun and for everyone, but will she be successful?​
Cast:
Rosy- Rosie Watts
Felicity- Bethany Daniels
Hansel- India Harding
George- Michael Rose
" With Special thanks to:
Rebecca Meltzer (Directing Mentor), Waterperry Opera Festival, National Student's Opera Society, Katy Vaughan Art (Artist), Paul Wingfield (Vocal Coach), Rita Cullis (Vocal Teacher), Valeria Racco (Language Coach), Jacqueline Pischorn (Language Coach), Cinzia Scafetta (Language Coach), Henry Etherington (Assistant Director), Bethany Daniels (Soprano), India Harding (Mezzo Soprano), Michael Rose (Pianist), My Wonderful Parents & Partner.
without their support, this performance could not be possible."
Act 1:
Schumann- Kinderszenen: 9. Knight of the Rocking Horse
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Britten- Turn of the Screw: excerpt from Scene 7: The Lake
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Bernstein- 'I Hate Music' Song Cycle
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Humperdinck- Hansel und Gretel: Little Brother Dance with Me
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Rossini- Duetto buffo di due Gatti
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Weber- Der Freischütz: Einst träumte meiner sel’gen base
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Mozart- Le Nozze di Figaro: Via resti servita
Act 2:
Schumann- Kinderszenen: 3. Catch me if you can
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Cimarosa- Il Matrimonio Segreto: Le faccio un inchino
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Mozart- Le Nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
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Lehmann- Fairies at the bottom of my garden
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Schumann- Kinderszenen: 6. An Important Event
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Gilbert&Sullivan- Mikado: Three Little Maids
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William Walton- Rhyme
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Humperdinck- Hansel und Gretel: Sandmann Aria
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Humperdinck- Hansel und Gretel: Evening Prayer Duet
Information about Composers and Translations:
​Robert Schumann- Kinderszenen
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Robert Schumann was a German composer and pianist during the romantic era (c.1820-1900.) He composed his Kinderszenen, meaning 'Scenes from Childhood,' in 1838 at just 28 years old and it is comprised of 13 short pieces for piano. Schumann originally composed 30 pieces for the work, but only 13 made it to the final cut. There is no known complete manuscript of his Kinderszenen. Included in this production is; 3. Hasche-Mann meaning 'Catch me if you can,' 6. Wichtige Begebenheit meaning 'An Important Event,' and 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd meaning 'Knight of the Rocking Horse.'
Benjamin Britten- Turn of the Screw: excerpt from Scene 7: The Lake
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Benjamin Britten was a British composer, conductor and pianist during the 20th century. He composed his opera 'The Turn of the Screw' in 1954 and it is based on the novella 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. The excerpt sung in the production is from 'Scene 7: The Lake,' in which Flora, the youngest child, is singing her dolly to sleep by the lake, with her governess. The excerpt is followed by the governess seeing a strange woman across the lake watching Flora, which becomes evident is the ghost of Miss Jessel, the former governess.
Leonard Bernstein- 'I Hate Music' Song Cycle
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Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor and pianist during the 20th century, famously known for his broadway musical West Side Story. His song cycle 'I Hate Music' was composed in 1943 and is dedicated to Edys Merril, a friend of Bernstein's, and his flatmate. Apparently, when fed up with hearing Bernstein constantly coaching opera singers and playing piano, she often uttered the title phrase. The cycle is made up of 5 songs and each piece explores childlike curiosity about various themes;
1. My Name Is Barbara
2. Jupiter has Seven Moons
3. I Hate Music
4. A Big Indian and a Little Indian
5. I'm a person too.
Engelbert Humperdinck- Hansel und Gretel
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Engelbert Humperdinck was a German composer and pianist during the romantic era (c.1820-1900.) He composed his Opera 'Hansel und Gretel' in 1893. The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, and it was based on the Grimm brothers' fairy tale 'Hansel and Gretel.' Included in this production; 'Little Brother Dance with Me' duet, the 'Sandmann' aria and the 'Evening Prayer' duet. The duet's are both sung by Hansel and Gretel in the opera and the Sandmann aria is sung by the magical sleep fairy, the Sandman.
​I love to dance and sing and play my games hate to
be alone.
Let’s dance away our hunger pains,
the dance is all we own.
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I love to dance and sing and play my games hate to be alone.
Let’s dance away our hunger pains,
the dance is all we own.
Tra-la-la
Turn around again and do it faster
can’t you make your legs do more than that?
Come over here, you lazy little brat!
Let go of me, let go of me,
I’m not your little brat.
A man has more important work than dancing with a girl.
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But big boy I’m too strong for you,
I’ll make you join the whirl.
Tra-la-la etc
Turn around again and do it faster
can’t you make your legs do more than that?
You naughty girl, you naughty girl,
your stocking has a hole.
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You stubborn boy,
you’ll do as you are told.
A wicked child is not allowed
to share this dance with me.
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Now don’t be cross you bossy girl,
I’ll catch you, you will see!
Tra-la-la! etc
Turn yourself around my slow-coach Hansel,
turn yourself around and join the dance.
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Yes! Spin until your head’s askew,
dance until you drop.
And if you wear your stockings through,
let mother sew them up.
English Translation by David Pountney and Tom Hammond, edited by Rosie Watts.
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Dance Duet:
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Little brother dance with me,
take my hand, advance with me,
one foot in, one foot out,
bow your head and turn about.
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Sister I’m a sorry sight;
which is left and which is ?
Show me once more how it goes,
then I might avoid your toes.
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With your foot you tap tap tap,
with your hands you clap clap clap,
one foot in, one foot out,
bow your head and turn about.
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With your foot you tap tap tap,
with your hands you clap clap clap,
one foot in, one foot out,
bow your head and turn about.
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Brother you have learnt it well,
dancing breaks the gremlin’s spell.
Once the boy gets down to school,
maybe he’s not such a fool.
Make your head go nick, nick, nick,
make your fingers go click click click,
one foot in, one foot out,
take a bow and turn about.
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Make your head go nick, nick, nick,
make your fingers go click click click,
one foot in, one foot out,
bow and turn about.​
Dance it nimble, dance it neat,
make it twinkle from your feet.
When two children join together,
they are more than twice as clever.
Come!
Sandmann Aria:
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The little Sandman calls you, Sh!
I'll see no harm befalls you, Sh!
I love you children dearly, Sh!
And care for you sincerely, Sh!
My little grains of magic sang,
will make you long for slumber land:
For when you tired eyelids close,
they give you peace and sweet repose;
So if you're good and sleep the night away:
then as the star awaken,
from heaven's high dominion,
the angel host will bring you dreams,
'till dawn of day!
Now slumber,
children,
while angels bring you golden dreams,
'till dawn of day!
Evening Prayer Duet:
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When at night I go to sleep,
fourteen angels watch do keep,
two stand here beside me,
two stand there to guide me,
two are on my right hand,
two are on my left hand,
two more come to wake me,
two more come to take me,
two more gently beckon,
and light the path to Heaven.
Gioachino Antonio Rossini- Duetto buffo di due Gatti
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Gioachino Antonio Rossini was an Italian composer in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras. He was particularly known for his Bel Canto style and therefore, Opera's. Bel Canto translates from Italian meaning 'beautiful singing,' and is a style of operatic singing. However he didn't just compose Opera's. His 'duet for two cats,' which is performed in the performance, was composed in 1825. The origin of the duet is debated between scholars as it is believed that Rossini didn't compose the piece himself, despite the piece being attributed to him, and instead it was a composition based on his opera Otello by Robert Lucas de Pearsall.
Carl Maria von Weber- Der Freischütz
Translation by Rosie Watts.
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Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor and pianist during the romantic era (c.1820-1900.) He composed Der Freischütz meaning 'The Freeshooter' in 1821, alongside Librettist Friedrich Kind. It was based on a story by Johann August Apel and Friedrich Laun from their 'Gespensterbuch.' The aria, 'Einst träumte miner sel'gen base', in this production is sung by the character Ännchen in the opera and she is singing a ghost story. The ghost story is frightening at first, claiming there is a big, beady-eyed monster under the bed, but has a light hearted ending in order to cheer up her weary cousin.​
Einst träumte meiner sel'gen Base Aria:
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Einst träumte meiner sel'gen Base
Once my deceased cousin dreamed
Die Kammertür eröffne sich
That the door opened itself
Und kreideweiß ward ihre Nase
And chalky white became her nose
Denn näher, furchtbar näher schlich
Then nearer, frightfully nearer crept
Ein Ungeheuer, Mit Augen wie Feuer
A monster, With eyes like fires
Mit klirrender Kette...
With clinking chains...
Es nahte dem Bette, In welchem sie schlief
It approached the bed, In which she slept
Ich meine die Base, Mit kreidiger Nase
I mean my cousin, With the chalky nose
Und stöhnte, ach! so hohl!
And groaned, ah! so hollowly!
Und ächzte, ach! so tief!
And moaned, ah! so deep!
Sie kreuzte sich,
She crossed herself
Rief, nach manchem Angst- und Stoßgebet:
Cried out with fear and furious prayer:
Susanne, Margaret! Susanne! Margaret!
Susanne, Margaret! Susanne, Margaret!
Und sie kamen mit Licht
And they came with light
Und, denke nur
And, just think
Und, Erschrick mir nur nicht!
And, don't be frightened!
Und, graust mir doch! Und,
And, It frightens me! And,
Der Geist war: Nero, der Kettenhund!
The ghost was : Nero, the watchdog!
Du Zürnest mir?
Are you angry with me?
​Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart- Le Nozze di Figaro
Translations by Bard Suverkrop and Jeremy Sams, edited by Rosie Watts.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer, pianist and conductor from the Classical era (c.1750-1820.) He was well known for his opera's but also for his larger symphonic works and choral works. He composed over 800 works in his short life, and his music is still being performed regularly today. An opera he is particularly well known for is Le Nozze di Figaro, translating to 'The Marriage of Figaro.', which was composed in 1786. The duet 'Via resti servita' performed this production is the duet between Susanna (Rosy) and Marcellina (Felicity), where they are very politely exchanging sarcastic insults at each other, insisting the other takes the first turn. The other piece taken from the opera for the production is 'Voi che sapete,' which is sung by Cherubino (Hansel.) In this Cherubino is singing about his new found feeling of love towards women, and how he doesn't know how to control it.
Via resti servita Duet:
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Via resti servita, Madama brillante.
Come let me serve you.
Non sono sì ardita, madama piccante.
I'd not be so bold, Worthy ma'am.
No, prima a lei tocca.
No, first "it's your turn"
No, no, tocca a lei.
No, No, "the turn is yours.'
Io so i dover miei, non fo inciviltà.
I know my position, I would not be rude.
La sposa novella!
A new bride!
La dama d'onore!
A lady in waiting!
Del Conte la bella!
The count's favourite.
Di Spagna l'amore!
The love of Spain!
I meriti!
Your qualities!
L'abito!
Your clothing!
Il posto!
Your position!
L'età!
Your age!
Per Bacco, precipito, se ancor resto qua.
I'll fly into a rage if I stay here any longer.
Sibilla decrepita, da rider mi fa.
Decrepit? She makes me laugh!​
Voi Che Sapete Aria:
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Tell me what love is, What can it be?
What is this yearning, burning in me,
Can I survive it, will I endure?
This is my sickness, is there a cure?
First the sensation, seizing my brain,
scorching in passion, ending in pain;
I start to shiver, then I'm on fire,
then I might quiver with seething desire,
Who knows the secret, who holds the key,
I long for something, what can It be?
My brain is reeling, I wonder why,
And when the feeling, give not or die,
My brain is haunts me, haunts me by night,
this awful torment tinged with delight.
Domenico Cimarosa- Il Matrimonio Segreto
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Domenico Cimarosa was an Italian composer of the Classical era (1750-1820.) He composed Il Matrimonio Segreto, translating from Italian to 'The Secret Marriage,' in 1792. The trio Le faccio un inchino is performed in this production and is sung by the characters Carolina, Elisetta and Fidalma in the opera it originates from. Carolina and Elisetta (Rosy and Felicity) are constantly arguing and this is just another argument to them, but Fidalma (Hansel) is fed up of them and puts her foot down, insisting they stop.
Le faccio un Inchino Trio:
Le faccio un inchino,
I make her a Bow,
Contessa garbata;
Polite Countess
Per essere Dama
to be a Lady
Si vede ch'è nata;
We see that she was born
Per altro,
For another,
Per altro,
For another
Lei rider mi fa!
She makes me laugh!
Strillate,
You Scream,
crepate!
You Shout!
Son Dama e Contessa.
I am a Lady and Countess.
Beffar se volete,
Mock if you want,
Beffate voi stessa.
You are mocking yourself.
Per altro,
For another,
Per altro
For another,
Creanza non ha.
You are not polite.
Quel fumo, mia cara,
That smoke, my dear,
E' troppo eccedente.
It is too much.
Voi siete, Carina, Un poco insolente,
You are pretty, A little insolent.
Vergogna! vergogna! Finitela già!
Shame! Shame! Finish it already!
Sua serva non sono.
I am not her servant.
Son vostra maggiore.
I am your major.
Entrambe siam figlie D'un sol genitore.
We are daughters of the same parent
Stizzosa ....
Irritating...
Fumosa ...
Woolly headed...
Finiam questa cosa, tacetevi là.
Let's finish this thing, stop there.
Non posso soffrire la sua inciviltà.
I cannot suffer her rudeness.
Codesto garrire tra voi ben non sta.
This flutter is not good between you.
Liza Lehmann- Fairies at the bottom of our Garden
Liza Lemann was an English soprano and composer of the late romantic era to early 20th century. She composed her song 'There are Fairies at the bottom of my Garden' in 1917 and it was one of the many art songs she wrote for children. She was also well known for writing parlour songs. Parlour songs were written for amateurs to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes, where many families kept their piano.
Gilbert&Sullivan- The Mikado
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Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were a theatrical partnership, Gilbert being the librettist and Sullivan being the composer. The trio performed is called 'Three Little Maids' and it comes from the operetta 'The Mikado.' An operetta is a style of theatre that is lighter than opera, and mixes song with spoken dialogue. Gilbert&Sullivan are well known for their Operetta's, notably the Pirates of Penzance, which features the famously known 'I am the very model of a modern major general' patter song.
William Walton- Rhyme
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William Walton was an English composer in the 20th Century. He was a very versatile composer, having written film scores, operas and classical symphonies, just to name a few. One of his best known works is 'Façade,' which comprises of a series of poems by Edith Sitwell, recited over his instrumental score. The song performed in this production is called 'Rhyme' and is number 6 in his song cycle 'A song for the lord mayor's table.' It is an art song based on the children's rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons.'
After a successful debut pilot performance, I'm delighted to announce that 'I Hate Music- or do I?' shall be appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 and also touring nationally in 2024- watch this space!
Bridging the Gap
A live performance exploring the gap between classical music and musical theatre, linking them together with the theme of love. If the theme of what you're singing about remains the same, does the genre really matter?
As part of Bethany Daniel's Undergraduate Major Project.
More information here:
Repertoire:
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Selection from 'Perchance to Dream': Love Is my Reason- Ivor Novello
O wär ich schon mit dir vereint- Ludwig van Beethoven
Là ci darem la mano- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Selection from 'Phantom of the Opera': Think of Me- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Selection from 'The Light at the Piazza': Statues and Stories- Adam Guettel
Selection from 'The Light at the Piazza': The Beauty Is- Adam Guettel
Selection from 'The Light at the Piazza': Let's Walk- Adam Guettel
Selection from 'Phantom of the Opera': Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Selection from 'Carousel': If I Loved You- Rodgers & Hammerstein
Selection from 'Wicked': What is this Feeling?- Stephen Schwarz
Selection from 'Wicked': For Good- Stephen Schwarz
Selection from 'Thoroughly Modern Millie': Gimme Gimme- Jeanine Tesoria & Dick Scanlan
The Girl In 14-G- Jeanine Tesoria & Dick Scanlan
Performers:
Bethany Daniels - Soprano
Henry Etherington - Baritone
Rosie Watts - Soprano
Eleanor Christie - Piano
David Bustos - Saxophone
Gary Hunt - Cello
Holli Pandit - Harp
Robin Skerrett - Trumpet
Charlie Humphrey-Lewis - Trumpet
More Projects to come 2023!