HeArtsongs, a performing duo consisting of Michéal Fiacc, composer/pianist/tenor, and his partner, Elizabeth Wakefield, soprano, and a loose coterie of other singers and pianists, has been in existence since early 1995.
However, it was not until 1997 that Michéal was introduced to the term “heartists” – one describing artists who strive to transcend society’s narrow definition of the term – in an article in Connections, the journal of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). Inspired by this idea, and feeling that the name of the group should likewise express his ideas about vocal melody as expressed in art song being an authentic utterance of the heart, he thus coined the name “HeArtsongs”.
In 1995, he debuted his first full-length vocal work, a 7-song cycle for Ms Wakefield, entitled To a Long Loved Love, drawn from the poetic cycle of the same name by Madeleine L’ Engle. Mr. Fiacc and Ms. Wakefield performed the cycle in collaboration with the author herself and noted Broadway performer, Marni Nixon, who staged the work, an emotional journey through the landscape of relationship. The concert, held in conjunction with St. John the Divine, where Ms. L’ Engle was the Honorary Librarian for many years, was also filmed for CNBC.
This was the first of a series of collaborative New York recitals over the next few years in which many of his songs received their world premieres. In 1996, he and Ms. Wakefield once again shared the stage with Ms. L’ Engle in an event titled The Healing Power of Song, a highlight of which was a series of vivid musical portraits, operatic in scope, and based upon Madeleine’s delightful poems, entitled 3 Mythical “Beasties” (“for children of all ages”): The Sea Monster, The Mermaid and The Dragon.
In 2000, he, Mary Elizabeth and some other colleagues collaborated on a professional CD recording of most of his L’Engle settings, in commemoration of the poet’s 80th birthday year, entitled The Weather of the Heart.
Most recently, he and Ms. Wakefield have performed in recital in a number of foreign countries, including Germany and Japan. Their most recent New York appearance was a recital at the New York Open Center, entitled "InChanted Voices", which, in addition to a number of Mr. Fiacc's art songs, included popular selections from musical theatre, and a number of sacred songs and chants.
