on wings of art song
Barely three years ago, soprano Amanda Thane devised a project that would give a platform to developing singers as a stepping stone to a career in opera, or indeed as an alternative to it. Art Song NSW has rapidly grown to be a force for informed performance and voice education in Sydney.
In this time, their presentations have taken singers and audiences around the world in art song – from Italy to England, Spain to Russia, as well as concerts themed around major anniversaries and events. Their latest offering takes us to unusual territory in the form of Scandinavian art song.
Mezzo soprano Catherine Carby and soprano Leah Thomas with pianist Sharolyn Kimmorley will be presenting the songs of Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg, Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, Lars Erik Larsson and Ture Rangstrom.
This will be one of Carby’s last appearances in Sydney before she leaves to further her career in London. Coincidentally, London is where Carby acquired a special understanding of Scandinavian art song when she studied at the Royal College of Music with vocal coach Britta Sundberg from the Stockholm Academy.
Art Song NSW’s next presentation is “Hausmusik” at 7.30 pm July 16th, behind which lies a most extraordinary tale. Imagine you moved into an apartment only to discover that it had been lived in by a world famous conductor who had an equally famous composer living next door. Their guests were amongst the musicians who defined early 20th century music! This is what soprano Sylvia Greenberg and her pianist husband David Aronsen, a coach at the Vienna State Opera, discovered when they moved into their 1902 residence at Theobaldgasse 7 in Vienna. Conductor Bruno Walter had occupied the apartment and Erik Korngold lived next door. Zemlinsky, Mahler and Goldmark were regular visitors.
In “Hausmusik”, Greenberg and Aronson present the music created and performed in the place that they call home.
More travel on song with American Connections on July 31st, and Winterreise, performed by baritone Barry Ryan and pianist Louise Scott, on 16th September.
Watch for more news from Catherine Carby on Scandinavian art song.
All concert bookings: 0411 110 889 , $20/30 includes a complimentary beverage.
