Korean soprano Hera Hyesang Park's choice of repertoire on "Breathe", the follow-up to her debut album "I am Hera", reflects personal concerns and a remarkable spiritual attitude to life. Classics can be heard, for example by Rossini, Verdi and Massenet, but also works by contemporary composers Luke Howard, Cecilia Livingston, Hyowon Woo and Bernat Vivancos. The soprano recorded the album in Genoa with the Orchestra and Coro del Teatro Carlo Felice under the direction of Jochen Rieder. 
Hera Hyesang Park says about her album: "I hope that this music will encourage people to live their lives in peace and with strength," says Hera. "Each of us has something to say that should be heard somewhere out there. One of us will find the right words. We should not be silent, but share what we have to say. Breathe and be brave!"

LUKE HOWARD (*1978)
While You Live
Text: from Seikilos’ Epitaph

HENRYK GÓRECKI (1933–2010)
Symphony No. 3 “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” op. 36 
for Soprano and Orchestra
Text: Helena Wanda Błażusiakówna
Lento e largo. Tranquillissimo · cantabillissimo · dolcissimo · legatissimo 
 “Mamo, nie płacz, nie” 
 “Mamo, Mamo, Mamo, Niebios Przeczysta Królowo”    

CARL ORFF (1895–1982)
In trutina             
from Carmina burana, Secular Songs from Benediktbeuern: III. Cours d’amours

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921)
Hänsel und Gretel, Act 2: Evening Prayer
Text: Adelheid Wette

CECILIA LIVINGSTON (*1984)
Breath Alone: Paula Modersohn-Becker
Version for 2 Sopranos and Chamber Orchestra
Text: Anne Michaels

GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792–1868)
Otello, Act 3: Canzone del Salice e Preghiera 
Text: Francesco Maria Berio after Othello, ou Le more de Venise by Jean-François Ducis
Affettuoso
“Assisa a’ piè d’un salice” (Desdemona) 
“Oh Dio! Qual mal strepito è questo!” (Desdemona, Emilia)         
“Deh calma, o ciel, nel sonno” (Desdemona)

BERNAT VIVANCOS (*1973)
Vocal Ice
for Soprano and Cello Octet
Doux, austère
Calme, tendre

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813–1901)
Otello, Act 4: Ave Maria
Text: Arrigo Boito after Shakespeare’s Othello
“Ave Maria, piena di grazia” (Desdemona)

HYOWON WOO (*1974)
Requiem aeternam (Eoi Gari)
Text: Hyowon Woo
Seulji Kim ajaeng

JULES MASSENET (1842–1912)
Le Cid, Act 2: Air “Plus de tourments” 
Text: Adolphe d’Ennery, Édouard Blau & Louis Gallet after the play by Pierre Corneille
“Plus de tourments et plus de peine” (L’Infante, coro)    
“Allez en paix, vous que l’on aime” (L’Infante, coro)        

JULES MASSENET (1842–1912)
Ave Maria sur la Méditation de Thaïs
arr. Matthias Spindler
Text: Traditional
Andante religioso “Ave Maria, gratia plena”
A tempo “Ave Maria, gratia plena”

LICINIO REFICE (1883–1954)
Cecilia, Act 3: Morte di Cecilia
Text: Emidio Mucci
Molto vivo e con fuoco
“Grazie, sorelle!” (Cecilia)
“Padre! Ho pregato” (Cecilia)

LÉO DELIBES (1836–1891)
Lakmé, Act 1: Flower Duet
Blumen-Duett
Text: Edmond Gondinet & Philippe Gille after Rarahu ou Le Mariage by Pierre Loti
“Viens, Mallika, les lianes en fleurs” (Lakmé, Mallika)      
“Dôme épais le jasmin” / “Sous le dôme épais” (Lakmé & Mallika)

GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792–1868)
L’Assedio di Corinto, Act 2: Scena e Preghiera
Text: Luigi Balocchi, Alexandre Soumet & Calisto Bassi
“L’ora fatal s’apressa” (Pamira)
“Giusto ciel, in tal periglio” (Pamira, Ismene, coro)          

Hera Hyesang Park soprano
Emily D’Angelo mezzo-soprano (5, 9, 22, 23, 25)
Coro del Teatro Carlo Felice (15–18, 25)
Claudio Marino Moretti chorus master
Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice (1–13, 15–25)
Giovanni Battista Fabris violin solo (1, 18)
Federico Romano cello solo (19)
Jochen Rieder conductor
Giovanni Porcile musical assistant