This thesis presents extended program notes for a sixty–minute vocal graduate recital consisting of the following repertoire for soprano: the arias “Soffri, o cor” and “Dimmi qual prova mai” from Alessandro Scarlatti’s cantata Dal Bel Volto d’Irene; a role study of Zerlina from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, including her arias “Batti, batti, o bel Masetto” and “Vedrai, carino;” Francis Poulenc’s song cycle Cocardes; selections from Arnold Schoenberg’s song cycle Das Buch der Hängenden Gärten; “Der Hirt auf dem Felsen” by Franz Schubert, a chamber work written for soprano, piano, and clarinet; and selections from American composer Ricky Ian Gordon’s song cycle Orpheus and Euridice, composed as a companion piece to the Schubert “Der Hirt auf dem Felsen.” These works span three centuries and cover four languages and multiple genres and musical styles. The content of this thesis contains detailed information on these works through historical study, musical analysis, and research in performance practice.
