Michelle DeFrancesco

Franz Schubert's "Der Lindenbaum" is the fifth song in his 1827 cycle *Winterreise*, set to a poem by Wilhelm Müller. It depicts a weary wanderer passing a linden tree that evokes memories of happier times and lost love, its rustling leaves seeming to whisper an invitation to rest. Amid a stark winter landscape, the traveler resists the pull and presses on, symbolizing enduring melancholy and isolation. The music contrasts a gentle, folk-like melody with turbulent undertones, capturing the...

For a large portion of my life, I have sung professional musical theatre, jazz, pop, and big band music. But I wanted to return to my roots in classical singing that began in high school and continued to my first paid position with the Sacramento Opera Company. I have not shared much of my classical singing on social media - it's time.  Presenting J.S. Bach's Oratorio Magnificat in D major, BWV 243 This full version of "Quia Respexit," composed by Bach, is in the reverent key of B minor to...

Michelle DeFrancesco is not only a talented singer but also a dedicated and prolific vocal music conductor. Her extensive education in...