From life, to the poet, to composer, to performer, to audience.

It is a unique chain of artistic expression in the form of art songs — poetry set to music — and Whidbey Islanders have the chance to experience it.

A pianist and singer perform French and American art songs in the first of the Winter Concert Series sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island.

Laurie Hungerford Flint, a soprano, and pianist Eileen Soskin will perform a program titled “Aural Imagery in French and American Art Songs” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 — not at UUCWI, but at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.

The afternoon will include the music of Debussy, Faure, Hahn, Copland and Lauridson set to the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Howard Moss, James Joyce, James Agee, Paul Verlaine, Louis Aragon and others.

The two accomplished musicians, who performed the program together this past spring in Baltimore, Md., will offer commentary on the music as the program progresses.

Flint is an active regional soloist whose singing has been described as “ravishing” and “eloquent” by the Annapolis Capitol and the Baltimore Sun. She has appeared as soloist with a long list of prestigious operas.

The recipient of the Erdman Prize for opera, Flint created the role of Caroline in the critically acclaimed world premiere of “Where Angels Fear to Tread,” by Mark Lanz Weiser. She has also sung leading roles in “The Magic Flute,” “Albert Herring,” “Postcard from Morocco” and “The Impresario.”

Her favorite performances, Flint said, are those in which the performer is able to create a rapport with the audience.

“This requires exposure and risk by the performer, and no less openness and risk by the audience,” the singer said.

“This level of trust is not always achieved — for numerous reasons — but when it is, it is magic. This is my personal goal for every performance — to enable magic.”

Soskin recently retired to Whidbey Island after a 34-year career as an educator and performer. She earned her doctorate’s degree at the University of California at Berkeley, and taught music theory and analysis at several universities over the course of her career, as well as having served as an arts administrator. In addition to her work as a pianist and mezzo soprano, Soskin is well-known for her pre-concert lectures.

“The talking I do before or during a concert seems to open the ears of many listeners, so that they really enjoy the music more,” Soskin said.

“And it’s really quite simple. It is particularly simple when there are words set to music.”

Although Soskin believes music can be enjoyed by having it wash over the ear and lull one into relaxation, she thinks it can be enjoyed more actively by listening more deeply.

She gives the example of words inspiring a composer to paint a picture, such as French poet Paul Verlaine’s words: Tears fall in my heart like the rain on the city.

“Debussy writes a piano part that sounds like falling raindrops, and those raindrops fall throughout the song until the climax,” Soskin said.

The poet continues: This is truly the keenest pain to know not why … my heart bears so much pain.

“And the raindrops disappear,” Soskin adds, “momentarily, because they exist for no real reason, and yet there is so much heartache. It’s all in the music if you listen closely, and composers, she said, shed light on the meaning of poems in a variety of ways.

“From mundane, to intellectual, to emotional … the poetry is beautifully reflected in the music — in the tempo, dynamics, harmonies and melodies,” Soskin said. To her, listening to music is akin to reading a mystery novel — there are clues everywhere in the music to keep one engaged.

Art song, Flint said, is created only when a composer is inspired by a poem. The composer’s task is to add to the poem — atmosphere, emotion, interpretation, a voice — and to create something new that is more than it was.

“Anyone who enjoys poetry is likely to love art song,” she added.

Such classical music that she and Soskin offer was never intended to be exclusive or elitist, the singer noted. It is meant to be heard, she said.

“I envision a world where people attend live performances as often as they attend movies and sporting events,” Flint said.

Both performers are looking forward to giving this special performance to a Whidbey audience. Soskin said the most enjoyable performances for her are those in which nothing exists but the music. Those when she is able to completely communicate her understanding of the music to the audience.

“It’s about complete focus — and this is true for the concerts I’ve attended and loved best of all,” Soskin said.

The suggested donation is $20, a portion of which will benefit the Good Cheer Food Bank.