 Track 1 – ROSE OF THE PRESIDIO
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Here performed by baritone, Frederick Matthews as Brother Diego, a role that was created for him.
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| Track 2 – CHOCOLATE CALIENTE |
This recording features Diane Squires as Concha. The Russians surely must have thought they had "died and gone to heaven" when the Arguello's welcomed them to the Commandancia with chocolate caliente! I didn't make this up; it's a historical fact.
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| Track 3 – WHO IS THIS MAN / THE VIRGIN'S ANSWER |
This was the first piece of music written for the show back in 1996. The voices featured here are baritone John Kendall Bailey as Rezanov and Michelle Diaz as Concha with Kristen Sharpley as the Virgin Mary. Michelle Diaz began working with me in my Singing Rainbow at the tender age of 7. She is the role model and my inspiration for Concha. Although she still sings, Michelle did not pursue a professional career in music. Happily, her lovely voice is captured here in these recordings. She is and always will be my first beloved Concha.
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| Track 4 – FRICASSEE OF HIS EXCELLENCY |
It was my brother Benjamin who came up with this method of cooking up His Excellency! Sung here by fabulous bass baritone, Mel McMurrin who was the role model for Santiago de Aguilar.
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| Track 5 – BY ORDER OF HIS EXCELLENCY |
My affectionate homage to Gilbert & Sullivan, sung here by John Kendall Bailey in the role of Rezanov's second in command, Lt. Davydov.
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| Track 6 – I CAN'T WAIT TO BEGIN |
Sung here by John Kendall Bailey. Rezanov took Concha and the entire community on a picnic to Angel Island on his ship, The Juno. I imagined that the two of them stole a quiet moment looking at the view of their future in this lovely duet.
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| Track 7 – MISSING YOU |
Performed here by Michelle Diaz and John Kendall Bailey. If one song emerges from the score to a larger life outside, I think it will be this one. Like Rezanov, I left my home early on to follow my path and have always lived far from my loved ones. I don't know how many years ago it was that my sweet mother, Isabel, closed one of her letters to me with the words "I miss you, but missing you has become a way of life." This tender duet between Concha and Nikolai poignantly captures a feeling I think everyone can relate to. If you haven't missed anyone in your life then you haven't been truly living.
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| Track 8 – SWEET FAVORITA |
Featuring Mel McMurrin. I wrote this piece in 1998 and in my mind's eye, everyone was either singing into a window or out of a window so I nicknamed the song "Windows '98". We didn't have the budget for windows in our premiere but our brilliant director, Victoria Holder made me forget all about that with her witty and wonderful staging of this piece.
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| Track 9 – SWEET CONCEPCIÓN |
I had been listening for the voice of Santiago de Aguilar for quite some time when Mel McMurrin appeared one night for a rehearsal. He had been brought in by Frederick Matthews to sing in the chorus on Rose of the Presidio. After hearing Mel's amazing voice, Sweet Concepción came fully formed into my head the very next day.
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