Video
Program Notes
Texts
Purchase
Performances

Proof and Disproof (2021)

an opera for one alone

for mezzo-soprano and piano

This work was composed during the Covid pandemic, where this insecurity of self, and connection with others was most intense, as most were left in isolation to deal with this solitude, and wondering about the reality of one’s connection with the outside world asking: Dost thou love me, my Beloved? Who shall answer yes or no? What is proved or disproved When my soul inquireth so, Dost thou love me, my Beloved?

As for dynamics and articulations, phrasing, they are left free and open to the performer to express and governed by the emotional content and interpretation of the text —with quite a lot of freedom. Above all, embody the emotion of the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and imagine her refection of “Dost though love me?” As she wanders through in her musings whether or not her love is true. This sentiment is universal and extremely personal, as one goes through uncertainty during separation, alone, and without confirmation of the presence of others.

It is this opera, for one alone that you must embody. The piano part is really a part for vocalist to be played for themselves- intentionally simple enough to be played and sung. (The pianist could also be a pianist, and sing the vocal line, since this too is simple and direct). The piano part should ideally be almost unified with the voice, the voice amplifies the piano part, the piano resonates with the voice, echoing its sound and emotion with pedal held throughout, to give resonance to the body of the singer. As pianist, and singer, I perform this work for myself alone. If this work is performed as a duo, then it should be as if one person performing—here is no separation of piano and voice, since this is an Opera Alone.

Proof and Disproof by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I

Dost thou love me, my Beloved?
Who shall answer yes or no?
What is proved or disproved
When my soul inquireth so,
Dost thou love me, my Beloved?

II

I have seen thy heart to-day,
Never open to the crowd,
While to love me aye and aye
Was the vow as it was vowed
By thine eyes of steadfast gray.

III

Now I sit alone, alone —
And the hot tears break and burn,
Now, Beloved, thou art gone,
Doubt and terror have their turn.
Is it love that I have known?

IV

I have known some bitter things, —
Anguish, anger, solitude.
Year by year an evil brings,
Year by year denies a good;
March winds violate my springs.

V

I have known how sickness bends,
I have known how sorrow breaks, —
How quick hopes have sudden ends,
How the heart thinks till it aches
Of the smile of buried friends.

VI

Last, I have known thee , my brave
Noble thinker, lover, doer!
The best knowledge last I have.
But thou comest as the thrower
Of fresh flowers upon a grave.

VII

Count what feelings used to move me!
Can this love assort with those?
Thou, who art so far above me,
Wilt thou stoop so, for repose?
Is it true that thou canst love me?

VIII

Do not blame me if I doubt thee.
I can call love by its name
When thine arm is wrapt about me;
But even love seems not the same,
When I sit alone, without thee.

IX

In thy clear eyes I descried
Many a proof of love, to-day;
But to-night, those unbelied
Speechful eyes being gone away,
There's the proof to seek, beside.

X

Dost thou love me, my Beloved?
Only thou canst answer yes!
And, thou gone, the proof's disproved,
And the cry rings answerless —
Dost thou love me, my Beloved?

To purchase the scores and parts, email Pamela Madsen directly at pmadsen@fullerton.edu.

September 19, 2025 | Meng Concert Hall, CSUF. Molly Pease & David Bergstedt