English pianist Stephen Hough – performing for the VRS on November 25 – is a true Renaissance man. He is a critically acclaimed musician, composer, journalist, painter and blogger. In a recent blog posting Stephen describes his reaction to a YouTube clip featuring the music of Franz Schubert:
“A friend sent me the video below recently and I was haunted by it for days. The pathos of the final song in Schubert’s bleak cycle Winterreise is almost unbearable, and in this performance it seemed to me that all artifice had been stripped away and that there was something raw and utterly authentic in Harry Plunket Greene’s singing, despite it being in English and despite its lack of vocal sophistication.”
With an alarmingly spare interpretation, Stephen shares this performance of Schubert’s Der Leiermann, sung without artifice and vanity, yet offers “genuine musical (even human) authenticity.”
As it did for Stephen, this interpretation is likely to stay with you for days.
SPECIAL TICKET OFFER! As part of the #VRSchubert campaign we’re offering a 25% discount* on Paul Lewis tickets. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE or call the VRS box office at 604-602-0363. Use code TWEET when ordering.
VRScubert: In anticipation and celebration of Paul Lewis’ performance of the Late Schubert Sonatas on October Tuesday, October 23, the VRS is embarking on 23 days of tweets, Facebook and blog posts about the life and work of Franz Schubert and the celebrated interpreter of his music.
Follow us daily on Twitter with the hashtag #VRSchubert, visit facebook.com/vancouverrecitalsociety, or check back in with us each day at vanrecital.com/blog.
* Discount on A, B, C, D price sections only and cannot be combined with other offers.