Join the Muses as they welcome spring's arrival with Printemps! Beauty of the French Art Song

Deleen Davidson

The Muses Creative Artistry Project and Garvan Woodland Gardens  present “Printemps!  Beauty of the French Art Song” on Sunday, March 18 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.  The concert is the first of the 2012 Muses’ four-part concert series at the Gardens, “Four Seasons in Art and Song”.

“Printemps”, the French word for spring, will feature some of the most breathtaking music ever written by Debussy, Faure, Gounod, and Berlioz, among other famous French composers of the 19^th Century.  These art songs were originally intended to be performed in a Salon setting, a private home or club, where music lovers gathered to hear the virtuoso expressions of a solo singer, or instrumentalist.  All of the pieces chosen for this program depict romantic images of Springtime: the mossy woods dotted with lilies-of-the-valley, blackbirds and nightingales spinning out enchanted songs of love and longing, fairies, dreams, …and advice to enjoy the pleasure of being alive.

Classically trained sopranos Deleen Davidson and Keely Futterer will perform, along with pianist Louis Menendez, flutist Shelley Martin, and trombonist Steve Suter.

  

Miss Futterer will present two famous coloratura soprano arias: Je veux vivre (translated “I want to live”), from Gounod’s opera “Romeo & Juliette”, and The Jewel Song, from “Faust”.  And for the concert closer, audiences will not want to miss these two sopranos performing the beloved Flower Duet from “Lakme'”.

Miss Futterer said, “I am so thrilled to come back to Hot Springs and work with the Muses Project again.  Singing in "Die Zauberflöte" was a glorious experience that wouldn't have been possible had it not been for Ms. Davidson's faith in me.  Working with her and with the Muses program has opened many opportunities for me and their passion for aiding musicians, young and old, is a wonder and a blessing.”

Keely Futterer is a native of Dover, Arkansas, currently about to graduate from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas where both of her parents are music professors.  She has always had a love of music, and that was catapulted into high gear at the age of six when she was cast as Gretl in her community’s production of “The Sound of Music”.  Since then, Keely has continued with her robust passion playing such roles as Annie in “Annie”, Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”, The Witch in “Into The Woods”, Maria in “The Sound of Music”, and Mabel in “The Pirates of Penzance”. She spent a summer in Eureka Springs participating in the Opera in the Ozarks program, where she performed in “Albert Herring”, “I Pagliacci”, “Hansel and Gretel”, and “Manon”, and recently marked her 22^nd musical/opera as Peggy Sawyer in “42^nd Street” at Arkansas Tech University.  In addition to playing characters, she has placed in many competitions, both state and regional.  This past spring she was awarded the Encouragement Award at the Arkansas MET auditions, given the Little Rock Music Coterie Award, and received 2^nd Place at the Tulsa Rotary Crescendo Competition.  More than anything though, Keely thanks God everyday for blessing her with an immensely supportive and loving group of family and friends and the gift that keeps on giving…music!!

Muses’ founder, Deleen Davidson was recipient of both Rotary International and Fulbright Scholarships, allowing her to pursue European music and Fine Arts studies in Germany and Austria.  She was named Outstanding Female Graduate of the University of New Orleans, and holds an honors degree in History, with minor studies in Music, Fine Art and German. She is the President and Principal Artist of The Muses Creative Artistry Project, a multi-disciplined non-profit arts organization dedicated to excellence, and preserving classical art and music through performance and education.  The Muses partners regularly with other arts organizations to enhance the cultural life of the region and grow the creative economy.  Based on nature’s four seasons, The Muses offers a regular series of concerts, art exhibits and creativity seminars.  To date, she has presented more than 75 performances in the region, including 25 full-scale concerts in which she was programmer, producer, promoter and principal performer. 

Continuing the 2012 seasonal celebrations, Summer will be celebrated with Broadway tunes and other popular standards, in a performance aptly titled “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” to be held on Fathers’ Day, June 17.  The Opera Gala performers will be in town to celebrate fall’s arrival on September 16 with “Opera Classics.” They will sing some of their favorite arias, duets, and ensembles, in preparation for the following week’s full performance of Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte”.  And, of course, the Christmas season would be incomplete without the Muses’ presentation of the seventh annual “Voices of Angels” concert on December 16. 

Series tickets are still available for $80, a $20 savings over individual prices of $25 per concert.  Advance tickets are encouraged, as several of last year’s concerts were sold out in advance.

For more information about The Muses Creative Artistry Project or their 2012 season, contact the Muses at (501) 463-4514 or www.themusesproject.org.  Or, stop by the Muses’ Three Arts Café and Bookstore, located in the lobby of the Hale Bathhouse in beautiful, historic downtown Hot Springs.