Schubert Schwanengesang – A New Release On Deux-Elles
Soprano Anna Fraser with scholar-pianist Neal Peres Da Costa have released an exciting new recording, Schubert Schwanengesang on the London-based Deux-Elles label.
Together, they re-imagine the sound of Schubert’s own Schubertiades, with the help of an astonishing set of recordings of singers trained in the 1830s and 40s. Especially innovative are Fraser’s experiments with varying the timbre of her voice within phrases, guided by techniques described in Manuel Garcia’s vastly influential vocal method (1840/47) in combination with other historical sources. The result is startling at first, but delivered with a warmth and charisma that transcends all boundaries of style and convention.
This is the second commercial recording to emerge from the cutting-edge Australian Research Council Discovery Project, The shock of the old: Rediscovering the sounds of bel canto 1700–1900, led by Peres Da Costa and also follows the success of his iconoclastic recording of Schumann’s Dichterliebe with baritone Koen van Stade (DXL1193), he joins forces here with soprano Anna Fraser to re-imagine the sound of Schubert’s
Acclaimed soprano Anna Fraser is lauded for her crystal-clear tone, stylistic awareness, and interpretative depth. Her artistry bridges centuries of musical expression, both historically informed and boldly imaginative. Her stage work encompasses roles in operas by Monteverdi, Rameau, Cavalli, Charpentier and Purcell alongside new operatic creations by Brett Dean and Mary Finsterer.
Neal Peres Da Costa is a passionate advocate for the reestablishment of artistic sovereignty in classical music performance. He is known for his groundbreaking research publication, including his highly acclaimed monograph Off the Record: Performing Practices in Romantic Piano Playing (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012) considered a ‘go-to’ text globally and a 9-volume co-edited Urtext/performing edition of Brahms’ Sonatas for solo instrument and piano (Bärenreiter-Verlag, 2015/16).
