Zueignung – Richard Strauss
2014 has started with real promise and lots of hard work :). I have a busy few weeks ahead of me and I need to focus on the areas of my performance that need attention. This means listening to my teachers, especially my singing teacher Kath, particularly trying harder on my pronunciation, and my consonants. Sometimes it can be hard to have your weaker areas laid bare in front of you but how are we to improve if we can not accept that these improvements are essential and work to correct them. I’ve been studying all weekend but managed to get to the Opera at the RCS on Saturday and have a little down time with friends.
This video above is the last of my classical recordings from 2013 and if any of you speak fluent German I would love to get your feedback on my pronunciation and phrasing. If you could e-mail me at enquiries@charlotte-hoather.com it would be a great help.

Last night I went with friends to watch the RCS production of Mozart’s ‘La Clemenza di Tito’ which was Mozart’s last opera, set in Rome and based on the turbulent life of the emperor Titus. The set and lighting were outstanding with beautiful scenery which explored the themes of the opera.
There was a modern approach to costumes, which linked in with the clean lines of the wonderful ‘ROMA’ set.
The character “Sesto”, I thought was the most outstanding of the night. Her portrayal of sincere love and innocence while displaying strength within the character was an excellent portrayal of the young love struck boy. Even though sung by a mezzo!
This was a great performance and one I really enjoyed, the tickets are selling fast but there are a still a few for Monday 20th Jan, Friday 24th January and Saturday 25th January 2014 ( Box Office Link )
Always an amazing treat. You are and have such an a talent I do hope someday to see you in person.
Truly
Benjamin
Thanks for stopping by Benjamin and your kind words.
All the best
Charlotte
You are wise to willing to accpet and learn from your teacher to improve your peformance. That is a talent that I would say also.
Thank you. I want to really improve my German this year.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, sorry I dont speak german…..But have a very good week!!!! Light and love with you 😉
Pascal
Thanks Pascal Merci 😉 your French pronunciation has helped with my Faure piece. Enjoying your new experimental art. Monday’s are my busiest day of the week and I’ve got loads on tomorrow so an early nights calling.
All the best
Charlotte
What a treat to find another performance from you in my inbox. I speak some German, but I wasn’t really able to hear well enough to comment. It didn’t sound like any other language…
Thank you Hilary I hope you enjoyed it. I’m up to chapter 11 of Unseen Unsung, really enjoying it but I’ve had to put it on hold for a couple of weeks can’t wait to discover more.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Breathtakingly beautiful! Wow, your voice gives me goose bumps! I hope to one day see you in concert. All the best to you Charlotte!! xo
Hi Janice I’d love to get the chance to sing in America 😉 Hope you’ve had a good start to the New Year.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very nice! xx
Hi Elizabeth, thank you and for the #FFs on twitter 😉
All the best
Charlotte
Thank you! All the best to you, too! xx
🙂
Good luck to you in 2014! Sounds like you are off to a great start 🙂
Thank you. I have to keep a better diary this year and get pop-up pings on my phone!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful voice! Absolutely wonderful! I’ve sent a link to this post to a friend of mine that speaks German fluently (well, he should….he’s actually German!) and I hope that he will get in touch with you. Not sure if he will or not, but I sure hope so. Sounds like your 2014 is off to a busy, and productive, start!
Thank you ;). I’ve had a particularly busy week, good though.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely rendition of the Strauss.
Hope the cure for inconsonants is effective! (It must be a problem with the runs.) 🙂
Ha ha ha. I’m glad you enjoyed the Strauss I’ve really enjoyed his pieces that I’ve learnt.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Challenging piece, Charlotte. Lovely to listen to the video. Glad you could take some time out with friends to relax. All the best for your studies. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by and for listening to my performance. I know that I need to put the work in this year to improve my technical ability but I would like to find a balance to help me chill out and relax too 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks for visiting, Charlotte. Appreciate your time too. Hope everything works out well for you. 🙂
My German is horrendously rusty but you sounded pretty good there. 🙂
And you’re quite right, if we want to make any progress at anything, we have to be willing to swallow our pride and listen to constructive criticism.
Hi Stephanie, I have always been lucky enough to work with teachers that are supportive but honest with their critiques. In whatever I have done this has helped me to focus and improve.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful acoustics. My husband David heard this recording and says, “Pipe it through the sound system.” You have a very strong voice and this piece is beautiful.Thanks, Dianne
Thanks Dianne King George’s Hall in Blackburn, Lancashire was a fabulous venue.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi. I don’t know much about classical voice but my niece is a studying vocal performance (she sang a German piece for me at Christmas) and I have sent her a link to your site.
Thank you, I’m enjoying improving my German, I had some great advice from a native Czech speaker Lukas, so I thought it couldn’t hurt to get some feedback from my German blog friends 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Good performance, great last note with a nice gesture to tie it all together. Interesting, I’d consider your voice to be quite dark, but there is a clarity and weightlessness to it.
Thank you, I have been working to improve the colour across my range.
All the best
Charlotte
I have no idea what you’re sayin’ but I’m sayin’ it works on me 🙂
(I feel a muse workin’ here)
Beautifully done.
Hi Jim The song title in English is ‘Dedication’, you can see the translation here http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=619
I’m glad you enjoyed it 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
thank U for the message, Charlotte; My Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-author-Deanie-Humphrys-Dunne/574820065875628?id=574820065875628&sk=app_278592948831507
I’d be honored if you’d like to visit my new website where i write about inspiring young people. Here’s the link: http://www.childrensbookswithlifelessons.com.
Great new website Deanie 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte