Anastasia Rainbow | Changing Through Time | Graduating Student Recital

The overarching concept for this recital is “Changing Through Time,” a musical journey that explores the evolution of human emotions and experiences across different eras and styles. The inspiration behind this program is the profound idea that music serves as a timeless mirror, reflecting the myriad ways in which individuals and societies have transformed over centuries.

Each carefully selected piece in this recital connects to this concept by offering a glimpse into a specific moment in history. We begin with Handel’s Baroque masterpiece, “Giulio Cesare,” representing the grandeur of the 18th century. Then, we transition to the Romantic period with Bellini and Schubert, delving into the romanticism and introspection of the 19th century. Richard Strauss’s “Allerseelen” carries us into the early 20th century, a time of great change and upheaval.

Mozart’s “Ach, ich fuhls” and Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” and “Le Villi” bridge the classical and operatic traditions, showcasing the enduring themes of love and longing. Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” symbolizes the dramatic intensity of the 19th-century opera.

The program takes a contemporary turn with BIPOC composers, reflecting the diversity and innovation of the 21st century. Dolores White, Innocent Okechukwu, Undine Smith Moore, and Margaret Bonds contribute a rich tapestry of African American spirituals and compositions that highlight the enduring relevance of their themes.

In “Changing Through Time,” the audience will embark on a transformative journey, guided by the power of music, witnessing how human emotions and experiences have evolved over centuries while remaining deeply interconnected. This recital aims to inspire re flection on the timeless qualities of music and its ability to transcend temporal boundaries, reminding us that, despite the changing tides of history, our fundamental emotions remain constant.

Dramatic Coloratura Soprano Anastasia “Ana” Rainbow is a graduate student vocal music major at Longy School of Music of Bard College studying with Jayne West. Ms. Rainbow is currently a recipient of the Castle of our Skins Fellowship. Ms. Rainbow received her B.M. from Fisk University and majored in Vocal Performance.

In 2019, Ms. Rainbow was a semifinalist in the Tennessee National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. Previously, Anastasia was a part of the Big Blue Fellows 2020-2021 with the Nashville Opera and had the opportunity to participate in multiple masterclasses with artists such as Laquita Mitchell, Adriana Zabala, and Talise Trevigne. One of the highlights of Ana’s music career was singing for President Barack Obama and Mitchelle Obama as a soloist with the Piney Woods School at the White House in Washington DC in 2015. In 2020, Anastasia was a part of the CAAPA Masterclass Series starring Denyce Graves- She was one of two students chosen to represent Fisk University in her masterclass.

Last season, Anastasia was the premier soloist with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Ensemble in the “Symphony On The Move” concert series. They traveled performing at Vann Gardens and Brownsville AMP Theater. Anastasia also was a featured guest soloist with the RPM Voices of Providence Rhode Island Choir for their summer concert series and for the annual Christmas concert.

At Longy School of Music Anastasia was heard in the “Les plus belles Mélodies et Chansons” French Connections concert, she also was a guest singer in the trio for “O soave sia il vento” from Cosí fan tutte on the Gift Anyagwochu “Lost Love and Music” recital. Anastasia was featured in her first year Masters recital at Longy School of Music.

Most recently, Anastasia was heard with “Linking Legacies” featured on a New England Tour. This summer Anastasia was a cast member in the production of Dreamgirls featured in Jackson Tennessee. Also she was a graduate intern assistant this summer at Lane College in the voice department under the tutelage of Professor Alexis Rainbow.