Liberty City Arts Presents – Erwartung by Arnold Schoenberg

Overview

This rarely staged one-act monodrama for soprano follows The Woman, agitated and disoriented, searching for her lover in an eerily dense wood. Schoenberg’s chilling psychological drama aims “to represent in slow motion everything that occurs during a single second of maximum spiritual excitement.” Erwartung is a pinnacle of modernism and an early example of Schoenberg’s use of expressionism in music. Like many of his own expressionist paintings, he layers notes to create a lush orchestration. Marie Pappenheim’s libretto is void of typical plot devices and instead the drama is expressed through The Woman’s inner turmoil. This stream of consciousness style is reflected in the athematic score. As The Woman’s mental state quickly dissolves, the audience begins to question her reliability as a narrator and are left in suspense with ultimately more questions than answers.

About the Artist

Liberty City Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to creating a vibrant art community in Philadelphia. We unite passionate art enthusiasts and artists through transformative experiences that impact the city’s cultural landscape. Our commitment includes supporting artists at all stages of their careers, ensuring they thrive and have opportunities to showcase their talents.

About the Artists

Amanda O'Toole

Philadelphia-based soprano Amanda O'Toole has won numerous awards, including the 2022 Houston District of The Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition. Other honors include two Encouragement Awards from the Arkansas District and finalist positions in the Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition (2020) and the Lewisville Lake Symphony International Voice Competition (2019). In 2021, she studied the role of Tatyana (Yevgeny Onegin) with the Russian Opera Workshop. She made her soprano debut in 2019 as a soloist in Goodall's Eternal Light: A Requiem at East Dallas Christian Church. Ms. O’Toole has performed with the choruses of Opera Philadelphia, Dallas Opera, and Detroit Opera (Michigan Opera Theatre). Previously a mezzo-soprano, her roles included Carmen (Carmen), Rosina (The Barber of Seville), and the Old Prioress (Dialogues des Carmélites). Ms. O’Toole holds an MM from The University of North Texas and a BM from The University of Michigan.

Ting Ting Wong

Collaborative pianist Ting Ting Wong is a vocal coach and accompanist in the Philadelphia area. She is a staff accompanist for the Academy of Vocal Arts, the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, the Jefferson University Singers, and the Philadelphia Voices of Pride. Additionally, she is the director of music at Newtown Square Presbyterian Church and the Union League Voices. She works with student singers at Haverford and Bryn Mawr colleges and has served as chorus pianist with Opera Philadelphia, assistant conductor with ConcertOPERA Philadelphia, and pianist for

Credits