Jazz Standards, and other

Opera Arias, Art Songs, etc

Musical project exploring the relationship between operatic styles of singing and electronic dance music genres.

SGNL feat Frances EmDee

Dolente immagine by Vincenzo Bellini

from a recital I sang in a few years ago...


Der Tod und das Madchen by Schubert

an encore I sang for a recital. ('countree' is the composer's spelling) mastered by hugo zapata. This is dedicated to the memory of my stepfather William B. O'Steen who passed away February 26, 2010 after a months-long battle with disease.  


Lass from the low countree - john jacob niles

SGNL & Brandon Riggs featuring Frances EmDee - Fire and Ice

This was recorded last month for the short film Patricia Says Goodbye


Collaborative Pianist: Patricia Says Goodbye arranger and composer, Michael Rose


https://www.patriciashortfilm.com/music

You are repose
and gentle peace.
You are longing
and what stills it.
Full of joy and grief
I consecrate to you
my eyes and my heart
as a dwelling place.
Come in to me
and softly close
the gate
behind you.
Drive all other grief
from my breast.
Let my heart
be full of your joy.
The temple of my eyes
is lit
by your radiance alone:
O, fill it wholly!

Du bist die Ruh by Schubert

This is from a recital I did years ago-would love to resurrect some of these mélodies...

"If my verses had wings...
Mes vers fuiraient, doux et frêles,
Vers votre jardin si beau,
Si mes vers avaient des ailes,
Des ailes comme l'oiseau.

Ils voleraient, étincelles,
Vers votre foyer qui rit,
Si mes vers avaient des ailes,
Des ailes comme l'esprit.

Près de vous, purs et fidèles,
Ils accourraient, nuit et jour,
Si mes vers avaient des ailes,
Des ailes comme l'amour."

Poem by Victor Hugo
Song by Reynaldo Hahn
1888

Si mes vers avaient des ailes by Reynaldo Hahn (frances mitchem-diago)

Dolente immagine by SGNL feat Frances Emdee

Accompanied by Eatay Shechter on guitar and special appearance by Nicolas Laget on flute.  

In a restless world, like this is, love is ended before it's begun /
and too many moonlight kisses seem to cool in the warmth of the sun .. 

=)

When I Fall In Love

with Eatay Ben Shechter on piano, recorded at Sweet Spot Studios in Annandale, VA with Nicholas Laget

La Vie en Rose

A little ditty I sang for my brother's wedding gift... Eatay Shechter on piano. Recorded at the Sweet Spot Studios in Annandale, VA by the great Nico Laget

Dream A Little Dream - Frances EmDee

a little ditty I recorded as a quick voice memo...let me know if you think I should record it with piano or guitar in the studio.

Moon River a cappella

Fran's message aka in your words by Adam Sketcher

 singing one of my favorite songs. Written by Joseph Kosma, english lyrics by Johnny Mercer.



Autumn leaves a cappella by Frances EmDee

Police

Che faro senza Euridice?

my interpretation of a classic by Arthur Hamilton.  =)

Cry Me A River by Frances Emdee

beautiful classic italian love song. simple & pure. written in 1838. (accompanied by dr patricia parker)



Lovely moon, you who shed silver light
On these shores and on these flowers
And breathe the language
Of love to the elements,
You are now the sole witness
Of my ardent longing,
And can recount my throbs and sighs
To her who fills me with love.

Tell her too that distance
Cannot assuage my grief,
That if I cherish a hope,
It is only for the future.
Tell her that, day and night,
I count the hours of sorrow,
That a flattering hope
Comforts me in my love.

Vaga Luna by Vincenzo Bellini (frances mitchem diago)

so in the true spirit of fanaticism ...I've created this ode to my favorite dj, as one of his biggest "franatics".  I have had a hard time not laughing while I did this.  Please don't take it very seriously...  <3   The original tune is Judy Garland's "Dear Mr Gable (You Made Me Love You).    

Regarding the speaking part, I've seen DFP many times in Washington, DC, New York, Miami, and Baltimore.  It was hard to list all of the different, memorable sets.  =)  He's just amazing everywhere he goes.

Dear Dimitri from Paris (you made me love you)

Originally recorded by Jo Stafford in 1946, written by Gordon Warren

At the request of my brother & his husband, I sang this at their wedding in May of 2015 (which was officiated by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg!!) and then later we recorded it with my wonderfully talented friend Eatay Ben Shechter on piano and recording engineer Nico Laget on saxophone. 

I recently gave this and a few other songs to them as a very belated wedding gift =) <3

This Is Always - Frances EmDee

A song I recorded for my brother after I learned it (at his request) to sing at his wedding in May of 2015 but due to noise complaints at the venue, there was no time to perform all of the songs I had prepared for that special day.

Some original lyrics updated to modernize as well as #RuthBaderGinsberg added because she was the officiant of the wedding that day =)

Eatay Shechter on piano and Nicolas Laget on flute

Recorded at Sweet Spot Studios in Annandale, VA.

How About You - Frances EmDee

Gia che morir non posso from Radamisto - Handel

We just uploaded a new version of this March 2014 with new bassline & vox & other touches.  Take a listen! =)

Art/folksong reinterpreted and based on "Asturiana" by Manuel de Falla: No 3 of Siete canciones populares españolas ("Seven Spanish Folksongs") 
"Por ver si me consolaba,
Arrime a un pino verde,
Por ver si me consolaba. 
Por verme llorar, lloraba.
Y el pino como era verde,
Por verme llorar, lloraba."

http://soundcloud.com/sgnl     more coming soon...

Asturiana clip by SGNL & Frances Emdee

German lied (or art song) reinterpreted and based on Robert Schumann's "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai" from his song cycle Dichterliebe.  


In the wonderful month of May,
When all the buds were bursting open,
My love burst forth from my heart.

In the wonderful month of May,
When all the birds were singing,
I confessed to her my yearning and my longing.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai clip by SGNL feat Frances EmDee

this is an interpretation of Erika's aria Must the winter come so soon from Samuel Barber's opera Vanessa.  I am not too happy with my diction in a couple of places but overall, I am pleased with this recording.  

Just wanted to post it since it's becoming chilly outside in October...

Hope you enjoy it!

Must the winter come so soon? by Samuel Barber sung by Frances MD

Accompanied at the piano by the incomparable Eatay Shechter     =)

Music by Walter Gross, Lyrics by Jack Lawrence

Tenderly by Frances EmDee

Something to get through the isolation. (I'm not a sound engineer or producer so this is not mastered..just a little something for my good friends' mom <3) 

(Hail Mary, Full of Grace..)
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Ave, Ave, Dominus,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris (tui),
Ventris tui, Jesus.
Ave Maria!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Ora, ora pro nobis;
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Nunc et in hora mortis,
In hora mortis nostrae.
In hora, hora mortis nostrae,
In hora mortis nostrae.
Ave Maria!

Be well everyone. Much love!

Ave Maria (Isolation 2020)

www.francesmitchemdiago.com
Hit me up if you want to collaborate on a project! I'm a househead disco freak but also I'm an operatic mezzo-soprano with a master's degree in vocal performance.
My interest in music projects, however, is not limited to opera as I love various other genres including jazz, house, disco, soul, downtempo, etc

francesita

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