October
31, 2003
Soprano
Nancy Gustafson '78 to Perform for Pontigny Symposium
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Nancy
Gustafson '78
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The Pontigny celebrations will open with a recital
of French and American songs by internationally acclaimed soprano
Nancy Gustafson '78. Gustafson will sing works by French
composers Berlioz, Canteloube, Poulenc, and Debussy, as well as
American music by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter,
and Irving Berlin. Nancy Gustafson has sung leading roles at the
Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera (where
she was recently honored with the title Kammersängerin)
and La Scala. The performance will take place on November 6 at
8 pm in Chapin Auditorium.
Q: What was your experience with music at Mount
Holyoke?
A: I participated in many different facets of the musical life
at Mount Holyoke. Of course, I majored in music. I sang in Coro
Mount Holyoke and I sang in the Freshman Glee Club (or was it
called the Choir?). I also was the music director of some shows
through the theatre arts department.
Q: What is your favorite Mount Holyoke memory?
A: Hmmm ... my favorite Mount Holyoke memory. Now, that is
difficult to answer. I believe that the most important thing that
I remember about Mount Holyoke is the personal interaction one
has with the faculty. Some of my dearest friends today are still
my professors from Mount Holyoke.
Q: How did you go about choosing the music
for the Pontigny program?
A: I had a great time choosing the selections for this concert.
Being as the world has been so divided recently on international
issues—and particularly in the sentiments between the French
and the Americans—I decided to do a concert of French and
American music. The first half of the concert will be all French
music. The second half of the concert will be American music that
[was] written during the time of the Pontigny encounters. Music,
after all, is an international language.
Q: How do you respond to negative criticism
of the United States when you are abroad?
A: Performing as an American in Europe is no different than being
an American tourist in Europe. I personally have been very angry
with our politicians in Washington. And I have been embarrassed
to admit that I was an American while overseas. It is the first
time in my life that I have wanted to hide my passport. Everyone
that I have encountered in Europe—and I travel throughout
most of mainland Europe—has disagreed with American foreign
policy during the past two years.
I was in the Canary Islands when the 2003 Gulf
War began, and there were major demonstrations being held against
the war. I was ashamed to be an American. And this fact alone
breaks my heart. Usually, I am proud to be American. After September
11, the Europeans had a lot of sympathy for all Americans. But
now that sympathy has been replaced with disgust. I long for the
day when I can have pride once again in what America stands for!
Fortunately, as I tell my foreign colleagues,
the politicians who are making foreign policy decisions in the
U.S. right now do not represent the common view of all Americans.
Where is the desire for peace for all mankind? I
agree 100 percent in protecting our nation—and I believe
that we should do 150 percent to keep our citizens safe, in the
U.S. and abroad. But, I wish peace were valued more highly.
Q: What is it like for you to return to Mount
Holyoke to perform?
A: I have been longing to return to Mount Holyoke for years. I
love the campus. I love every aspect of life there. I am very
proud of Mount Holyoke's generosity toward the Pontigny writers
and artists. And, of course, as a professional musician, I'm
proud that "my" college was and is so involved in keeping
music and the arts throughout the world alive.
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