Audio Sample

From Standing Her Ground, Act 1, Scene 1

Nathan Synder, tenor, and Alaina de Bellevue, piano

Diego — “What just happened?”

DIEGO: What just happened?
She’s left me dazed.
What spell has she cast?
Her smile pierced my heart.

She dazzles like the sun
as it rises at dawn.
Her radiance transforms this night.
Her face aglow, confident, and bold—
a vision of light.
I stand amazed, ensnared, and spellbound.
If I danced with her again,
would my eyes betray
how completely I am charmed?
I am enthralled!

Stop! Stop being a fool.
Stop dreaming, dreaming a love
that cannot be.
Soon she will leave,
leave without a thought of me.
Still, there’s tonight
and more dancing.
More moments of joy.
Tomorrow is a world away.
Stay in this moment. Stay!
Stay lost in the light of her flame!
She’ll depart,
but her spell will remain.

(Back to more excerpts from Standing Her Ground.)