Lieder Quartet's Masterclass

The Age

Tuesday September 9, 2008

John Slavin, Reviewer

THE SCHUBERT PROJECT: LIEDER

Australian National Academy of Music September 7, www.anam.com.au

THE final day of a weekend celebrating the music of Schubert saw four of the most accomplished lieder singers in the country open this program with two vocal quartets, The Dance and Hymn to the Day.

Soprano Sara Macliver and mezzo Sally-Anne Russell are well known for their stage appearances and their recordings, while baritone Peter Coleman-Wright is a fine actor-singer who recently sang Mandryka in OA's Arabella. Tenor Christopher Saunders is less well known, but he proved to be the true heart of this gathering of Schubert devotees.

Macliver's clear, pure soprano perfectly suited the songs she chose, an entire youthful biography about rejected love. Coleman-Wright was joined by a string ensemble, the Orchestra of the Academy, led by William Hennessy, in settings of To Music and The Earl King, written by Australian composer James Ledger, who also created string interludes between the lieder.

The transposition was repeated for Russell's Three Songs, with music by Gordon Kerry in which, despite the mezzo's rich dramatic approach, the cantata style produced a more conventional romantic effect. The addition of the strings made for delightful music but fundamentally changed the dialogue between voice and piano.

The best was kept until last. Accompanied by the unobtrusive Berta Brozgul, Saunders interpreted three lieder including The Curious One from Die schoene Mullerin. Committed to the marriage of musical and lyrical line, he sang with great tenderness and tactful passion.

The overall result of the various contributions was a delightfully varied afternoon of Schubert's poetic art.

© 2008 The Age

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