As part of the 2004–2005 Penn Humanities Forum on Sleep and Dreams, two world-renowned musicians put together a magnificent theme concert that was performed—one time only—on October 12, 2004. After a scholarly introduction of the role of sleep and dreams as sources of artistic inspiration, soprano Jody Karin Applebaum and piano virtuoso Marc-André Hamelin took the audience of over 100 souls on a musical tour of slumber, restless nights, and dreams as seen through the eyes of various classical composers. Consisting of twenty songs—ranging from the witty to the philosophical and from the anxious to the tender—and two instrumental pieces, the carefully selected program featured a variety of genres and covered five different languages.

Ms. Applebaum and Mr. Hamelin, internationally acclaimed for their spot-on musical interpretations and great dramatic power, performed these pieces with great enthusiasm and an apparent ease that is the hallmark of deeply rooted skill. It was an absolute joy to listen to these talented performers, and despite the concert’s sleepy theme, the audience easily stayed awake until the end. They were awarded with a climactic finale in the form of the song “Susan’s Dream (Love Life)” by Kurt Weill—a moving highlight of the program. The concert concluded with a standing ovation and, to everyone’s delight, Ms. Applebaum and Mr. Hamelin returned to the stage for an encore. During the reception that followed, superlatives were used abundantly.

The Penn Humanities Forum thanks Ms. Applebaum and Mr. Hamelin for this exceptional event, which will long be remembered by those fortunate enough to have witnessed it.

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*2004-2005 Topic Director, Penn Humanities Forum on Sleep and Dreams

Program

Lullaby and Goodnight
Wiegenlied, Johannes Brahms
Mariä Wiegenlied, Max Reger
Berceuse, Frédéric Chopin
Nana, Manuel De Falla
Cradle Song, Peter Ilyich Tschaikovsky
Goodnight, My Someone (The Music Man), Meredith Wilson

Sleeping and Not Sleeping
Kind im Einschlummern, Robert Schumann
Rest, Sweet Nymphs, Peter Warlock
Oh, quand je dors! Franz Liszt
Le Sommeil, Francis Poulenc
Oh Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me? George Frederick Handel
Sleeplessness, Nikolai Medtner

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
Ich träume jede Nacht von Elisabeth! Friedrich Hollaender
Youkali, Kurt Weill
Après un Rêve, Gabriel Fauré
Seit ich ihn gesehen, Robert Schumann
Ich kann’s nicht fassen nicht glauben, Robert Schumann
Nacht und Träume, Franz Schubert
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht, Johannes Brahms
Es träumte mir, Johannes Brahms
Dream Dancing, Cole Porter
Susan’s Dream (Love Life), Kurt Weill