Album Notes

This cd is a compilation of traditional and classical lullabies from around the world performed by Bay Area (East Bay) artists Christa Pfeiffer, soprano and Kristin Pankonin, piano. We thought that having an eclectic selection of lullabies from ten countries in six different languages would have wide appeal. Both artists are classically trained, perform and teach locally and also have international performing experience. The project began when a friend had a baby and, convinced that her voice would never get her baby to sleep, commissioned Christa to make a recording of lullabies. We hope that this cd brings you and your baby much joy, calm and restful sleep. Visit www.christapfeiffer.com for more information, texts and translations.

Soprano, Christa Pfeiffer, is active in opera and oratorio throughout the Bay Area having performed with Oakland Opera, Festival Opera, American Bach Soloists, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. Operatic roles include Ilia (Idomeneo), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Musetta (La Bohème) and Gilda (Rigoletto) and on the concert stage she has been soloist in Fauré's Requiem, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and Bach's Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion.

Recent performances include Beethoven's Mass in C with the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Mozart's Mass in C Minor with the Arizona Masterworks Chorale, and Haydn's St. Nicolai Mass at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. Equally at home in contemporary repertoire, Ms. Pfeiffer gave a live broadcast recital including Poulenc's Banalités on KPFA and performed Messiaen's Poèmes pour Mi at the Britten Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies in Aldeburgh, England. Ms Pfeiffer received a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Eastman School of Music.


Kristin Pankonin

Kristin Pankonin, pianist, performs regularly throughout the Bay Area and has also appeared in recitals in New York and Europe. She holds an MM degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a BA in international relations from Pomona College. She has also received a scholarship to Music Academy of the West where she studied with Martin Katz and Gwendolyn Koldofsky and received fellowships to study at the Tanglewood Music Festival. Ms. Pankonin has accompanied many master classes, including those of Regine Crespin, Phyllis Curtain, Anna Moffo, Sanford Sylvan, Warren Jones and Rudolph Jansen. She has performed recitals throughout the Bay Area and serves as accompanist and vocal coach at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Mills College.