Mary Dibbern
Accompanist and Vocal Coach

Recitals with Kurt Ollmann. Click for information

Books by Mary Dibbern
published by Pendragon Press

"I am certain that the present book, assembled with such care, will enable singers and pianists to better understand these beautiful songs."  --Gérard Souzay

"Jacques Leguerney, heir to the exquisite French mélodie tradition, is beautifully served in this carefully researched and practical performance guide. The Leguerney mélodies are gratifying vehicles for both singers and pianists. . . . This study leads the way to establishing international recognition for a composer who so richly deserves it."  --Richard Miller, Wheeler Professor of Performance and Director of the Vocal Arts Center, Oberlin Conservatory.

"Jacques Leguerney’s songs form a magnum opus of undeniable beauty and originality. . . . This book is a must for performers and enthusiasts of the mélodie. Unquestionably it will help achieve the recognition that Jacques Leguerney deserves as one of the twentieth century’s great song composers."  --Dalton Baldwin

"My hat is off to these remarkable scholars and performers who have provided us with a wealth of information that is a must in every serious art song enthusiast’s library. Chapeau!"  --Thomas Grubb, The Juilliard School, Peabody Conservatory of Music; Author of Singing in French (Schirmer Books, 1979).

Endorsements of Carmen, Tales of Hoffmann and Faust / Roméo et Juliette Performance Guides:

"Mary Dibbern’s book is invaluable to opera directors as they sit down with the score and try to make responsible production decisions. Would that other commentators had been as fair or as clear with the work and its sources as she has been. This book should have great success."  --Henry Akina, General and Artistic director—Hawai’i Opera Theatre

"Mary Dibbern’s many years of living and working in France have given her a special understanding of the problems of non-French speakers who are preparing French-language roles. Their comprehensive coverage makes these books an indispensable reference for all who are involved in the rehearsal and performance of these works."  --Brian Dickie, General Director — Chicago Opera Theater

"It gives me great pleasure to recommend Mary Dibbern's work on French operas, both for students and for professionals seeking to perfect their preparation on these ever popular operas, whose difficulties are all too frequently underestimated."  --Timothy Coleman, Opera Director and Co-artistic Director, Oporto Opera

"The painstaking and affectionate scholarship demonstrated by Mary Dibbern should stand as an example to all opera professionals of the care and precision necessary to realize fully these and other works of the operatic repertoire."  --Christine Bullin, President and General Director, Chanticleer

"Hey Mary, I bought your book and love it!" --Marcus Küchle,
Artistic Administrator, Cincinnati Opera

The quality of translation, the annotations and the use of the phonetic alphabet in Mary Dibbern’s new Performance Guide to Faust and Roméo et Juliette rise to the high level of quality expected from this remarkable woman after her brilliant treatment of The Tales of Hoffmann and Carmen. Added to this work is a Foreword by the octogenarian great-grandson of Charles Gounod. Quoting some unpublished letters in the possession of the Gounod family and making some astute observations, the Foreword by itself gives one a reason to procure this vital guide for one’s library. Ms. Dibbern’s comments on French diction concepts, which precede the specific work on the two libretti, contain some brilliant points, including a quote from the composer: “Articulation is the text’s skeleton and body; diction is its life and soul.” What a superb lesson for today’s singers! --Speight Jenkins, General Director, Seattle Opera

Mary Dibbern has done it again. Her detailed look at Faust and Roméo et Juliette will be a must-have for every singer, director and coach. Her books are nothing short of fantastic. Buoyed by her living and coaching in France for many years, Mary offers a special understanding of the problems of the non-French speaking artists preparing roles in the French repertoire. So complete are these books that my one wish is that they had been around when I was singing! --Darren Keith Woods, General Director, Fort Worth Opera

I have recommended Mary Dibbern’s previous books on Carmen and The Tales of Hoffmann to countless singers and directors. They offer excellent word-by-word translations with accurate and clear phonetic pronunciation guides. Also included are collections of essays and footnotes giving historical perspective on the composition of the operas, taking the reader through the versions and editions with remarkable clarity. Directors will appreciate the translated source materials for the libretti. These books are one of the most valuable study resources available and I applaud her intense and comprehensive attention to detail. -- Dean Williamson, 
Conductor—Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and Boston Lyric Opera

Musical Editions

Mélodies by Jacques Leguerney.
Eight volumes prepared for publication in collaboration with the composer.  Editions Max Eschig (Paris).

Mélodies by Gounod, Duparc and Chaminade.
Translations for Classical Vocal Repertoire (New York).

Periodicals

The Opera Journal
articles by Mary Dibbern

“Coach’s Notebook . . . from France.” Volume XXVII, Number 2, June 1995, pp 25-34. An interview with Brian Dickie concerning the production of Haydn’s “L’Incontro improvviso” at the Nice Opera.

“Coach’s Notebook . . . from France.” Volume XXVII, Number 4, December 1995, pp 28-34. An interview with young American opera conductor David Heusel as he conducted a production of La Boheme at the Parisian Opéra-Comique, alternating versions in Italian and French.

“Coach’s Notebook from Germany: Mary Chun.” Volume XXIX, Number 3, September 1996, pp 38-45. An interview with a young conductor leading the German premier of John Adams’s opera “I was Looking at the Ceiling and then I saw the Sky.”

“Coach’s Notebook: Carmen in Shanghai.” Volume XXX, Number 3, September 1997, pp 13-22. About the author’s experiences as coach for the first French-language production of Carmen in China.

“Jacques Leguerney (1906-1997): The Celebration of French Song” by Patrick Choukroun, Translated by Mary Dibbern. ” Volume XXX, Number 4, December 1997, pp 42-46.

“Fromental Halévy: His Life and Music by Ruth Jordan, Reviewed by Mary Dibbern.” Volume XXX, Number 4, December 1997, pp. 54-56.

Record jacket notes. (40 recordings).

Translations from French to English for Musidisc-Ades (Paris) and for Lys-Dante (Paris.)

Article about Mary Dibbern
“UND Alumna Changes French Music History”
by Christa Folvag

“Mary (Wilson) Dibbern, ’72, was beginning her career as a vocal coach in Paris when she discovered the forgotten music of French composer Jacques Leguerney. . . .”