Character and Non-character in Art Song

Whom is a singer portraying when performing? While this is a straightforward question in opera where there is usually a concrete character to play, it is not always obvious in art song. The persona that the singer portrays in art song is not always clearly delineated: they may be a familiar figure, a nameless wanderer, a detached narrator, or even a disembodied consciousness. The outburst of singing may be an act of soliloquy or an internal thought process. It could occur as part of a chronological sequence of events or perhaps fall outside of time entirely. These portrayals require different embodied instincts from those in operatic singing.

My exegesis explores some of the different kinds of vocal personae one can portray in art song performance. I posit a framework within which I categorise my personal methods of performance, relating to how an audience member might perceive these personae in relation to themselves. With reference to four selected solo vocal works, I detail how my application of this framework informs my performance, resulting in a unique embodiment of these abstract personae.