Ellen Rissinger
So Lit Song Lit Creator & Co-Host
Appears in 51 Episodes
Vocalises
For the last episode of the season, we wanted to present a special topic: Vocalises! Not just for warming up, they can be incredible pieces for an audience as well.
Pinkham: Three Songs from Ecclesiastes
Ellen was first introduced to the music of Daniel Pinkham by tenor Kenneth Riegel (who played Don Ottavio in the 1979 movie with Raimondi). Pinkham taught composition ...
Le Chevalier de St. Georges
Le Chevalier de St. Georges, Joseph Bologne, composed many songs, which are now being compiled by New York-based conductor Tyson Deaton! These pieces are the perfect w...
Alma Mahler: Fünf Lieder
There are only 17 extant songs by Alma Mahler (wife of Gustav), and her Fünf Lieder were the first pieces she had published. They are available in Alma Mahler: Sämtlic...
Pizzetti: Cinque liriche
Jennifer Aylmer, Associate Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University, joins us to discuss Ildebrando Pizzetti's Cinque liriche.
Glière Romances
Composer Reinhold Glière is lesser-known even in Russia, but his songs are well worth digging into!
North American Women Composers: Laitman, Dunphy, Hagen
This week we are focusing on three contemporary women composers in North America: Lori Laitman, Melissa Dunphy, and Jocelyn Hagen, all of whom have a great deal of Art...
Lili Boulanger: Clairières dans le ciel
This week, we talk about the Boulanger sisters, focusing on Lili Boulanger and her Clairières dans le ciel, a set of 13 songs for soprano. Lili was the first woman to ...
Krenek: Reisebuch aus den österreichischen Alpen
For those of you who love Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, Ernst Krenek's Reisebuch aus den österreichischen Alpen is another epic song cycle to fall in love with!
Santoliquido: Tre poesie persiane
Happy 2023! We are starting the second half of Season 1 off with an amazingly beautiful set of songs by Francesco Santoliquido: Tre poesie persiane.
Duets for Soprano & Baritone
We're halfway through the season, so we wanted to do something special! Episode 10 covers duets for soprano and baritone that are not "Là ci darem la mano" :-) includi...
Pasatieri: Bel Canto Songs
Thomas Pasatieri has a large catalog of Art Songs, as well as 24 operas to his credit! Today's focus is on his Bel Canto Songs, a set of 6 songs on poems by William Bl...
Inspired by A French Collection
Jennifer Aylmer, Associate Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University, joins us today to discuss some lesser-known songs found on the album A French Collection.
Marschner: Ein Liederheft vom Rhein
Dr. Jeffrey Williams, creator of the Marschner Song Database, joins Ellen to discuss Marschner's Op. 186 Ein Liederheft vom Rhein.
Donaudy: 36 Arie di stile antico
New York-based vocal coach Susan Morton of SingThrough Central joins us today to discuss the rest of Donaudy's songs (besides "O del mio amato ben"!).
Gomezanda: Mexican Song Collection
Episode 5 introduces Gomezanda's Mexican Song Collection, our guest today is Dr. Juanita Ulloa, who collected and edited the volumes.
Hoiby: Three Ages of Woman
This episode is about the songs of Lee Hoiby, particularly his short cycle Three Ages of Woman.
Isabelle Aboulker: Savoir vivre et usages mondains
Episode 3 focuses on Isabelle Aboulker's "Savoir vivre et usage mondains".
Wolf: Liederstrauß
This week, we are talking about Hugo Wolf's Liederstrauß (with texts by Heinrich Heine) which were published posthumously.
24 Italian Songs and Arias by Women Composers
In the inaugural episode of So Lit Song Lit, we discuss the 24 Italian Songs and Arias by Women Composers, compiled and annotated by Nicole Leone and Randi Marazzo.
Season 1 Trailer
Introducing So Lit Song Lit, where we reimagine the repertoire by examining less familiar art songs with lively discussion and sound clips! Join vocal coach Ellen Riss...