The Glynn Family Honors Program recently hosted a musical performance by Heidi Grant Murphy and Kevin Murphy at the Snite Museum of Art. Kevin Murphy is the Music Director at the New York City Opera, a position he previously held at the Paris and Metropolitan operas. His wife, Heidi, is a soprano who regularly performs at the top opera houses in the world. Dubbed the “Power Couple” by the New York Times, the husband-wife duo filled the auditorium with the music of Strauss, Rachmaninoff, and Hogan and Johnson.
The two were introduced by ND Honors Program alumnus and current law professor and member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Fr. William Dailey. Dailey first heard the distinguished guests while in New York City as a student. After seeing the couple perform in some of New York’s most prestigious venues, he learned that the Murphys were also parishioners at a Catholic church.
The duo began the program by performing three songs by Richard Strauss, called “Glow of evening and nighttime,” “Tomorrow,” and “Throbbing hearts.” Heidi introduced the pieces and read the poems in English before proceeding to sing them in German with the accompaniment of her husband on piano.
Following the Strauss pieces, they performed “The Daisies,” “The Pied Piper,” and “Dream” by Rachmaninoff. Before their final three songs, Kevin announced that as part of their recitals, they are usually expected to perform German Lieder, French, or Italian pieces, often neglecting the American art songs. He said that although African American spirituals are seldom performed outside the context of African American spirituality, they “are in the American treasury and really are art songs.”
A question and answer session followed the performance. The couple spoke about their careers and family life. As parents of 4 children, they advise aspiring musicians not to put their personal lives on hold for their art. Heidi said that a lot of good art comes from life.
Kevin and Heidi also talked about their relationship. Heidi attributes much of her success to her husband’s coaching.
For those not quite familiar with opera, but hoping to learn more about it, Kevin suggests reading the book OPERA 101 by Fred Plotkin. Additionally, he suggests using YouTube as a resource for listening to and finding good music. Heidi recommends that new listeners begin with a recording of Pavarotti singing “Nessun dorma” from the opera TURANDOT by Puccini. Kevin says it is important to experience opera at your own level, whatever that may be, and not to be concerned with a lack of knowledge: “Opera shouldn’t be intimidating, classical music shouldn’t be intimidating—you just have to dive in!”
