A Winter’s Journey makes a new beginning for Morgan Pearse
On July 27th baritone Morgan Elliot Pearse will perform Schubert’s Winterreise, D 911 with pianist Chad Vindin. Later this year, he’ll undertake a different winter’s journey of sorts, and move to London where he will undertake a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music. Unlike Winterriese, this journey is about the ascent of a career rather than the descent into despair. One of the best aspects of the ascent is that he has won a full scholarship to further his studies.
The 90 minute song cycle is performed without a break. Pearse, 22, chose this seminal work for its landmark status in the Art Song repertoire. “The stories are phenomenal, the music gives scope for textual expression, and the piano comes into its own – all creating a perfect partenrship” he says.
Frequently performed and recorded by the greats, a young singer needs to present their own perspective in addition to the musical, textual and technical challenges. Pearse intends not to compete with others, but to take his own experiences into his interpretation. Coincidentally, the legendary Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau was 22 when he made the first of 7 studio recordings of Winterreise. (There are numerous live recordings as well). Pearse nominates performances by Fischer-Dieskau, Peter Schreier and Thomas Quasthoff as having influenced him.
Pearse acknowledges that a career including opera as well as Art Song would be ideal, though it is a well known phenomenon that Art Song is less well funded and draws fewer audiences than opera. Yet, it is more intimate and therein lies thet challenge – “Art song unlike opera, is not about creating someone different. It’s about experiencing something of yourself in the music”.
Shamistha de Soysa for SoundsLikeSydney©
TICKETS: $20 / $10 Concessions. These will be available from the door on the evening. For booking inquiries, please call 9332 5895 during business hours.
