Magpie artsong

Last Sunday half of Adelaide was sitting watching football, while a smaller, wiser group assembled at the piano showroom of Leaver and Son to hear a most satisfying program of art songs, wth the tenor Kyle Stegall and the pianist Penelope Cashman. Unlike grand opera or choral symphonies art songs should be performed in intimate places. Think of the salons in Paris, Vienna, or even our own North Adelaide Baroque Hall. Smaller does not mean less. It means finesse and encapsulating depth of thought and feeling, that which defines our humanity.

The piano showroom with a wall lined with grand pianos, and excellent acoustics, served very well indeed. Taken with the relaxed and informative comments on each set which Penny and Kyle performed the choice of songs was insightful and well chosen.  

Beethoven’s Adelaide, a yearning for an unattainable woman, (which, it seems, often to be Beethoven’s fate)  led  to selected Goethe Lieder by Schubert. These songs, defined as Love and Longing are enshrouded in the ache of loss and separation, nostalgia and desolation. 

The more robust romantic sentiments expressed in three Browning poems set to music by Amy Beach concluded the first half of the program. 

Demonstrating that art songs are not all by lovelorn German composers or more extrovert Americans the second half of the program  brought us in touch with contemporary life. Five songs by Ukrainian composer, Yakiv Stepovi were composed in an earlier period when Ukraine was under siege, but the strength of feeling in songs such as Sorrow and Joy and Centuries of Oppression are most certainly relevant today. There was a strength and urgency in these songs, grouped under the heading Homeland and Exile.

And finally a delightful set of songs by Ppulence, set to the words of the  controversial poet Louise de Vilmorin Mélodies, lifted the mood. Interestingly they were composed with a male singer in mind, although a number of women have recorded them.

Penelope Cashman, while furthering her studies in Europe specialised in song accompaniment. Some may believe that accompanying singers means simply following their lead, keeping them in time, and covering up any mistakes the singers may make, are out of touch. Known also as a collaborative artist, the pianist is as musically involved, working in partnership with the singer or instrumentalist. From the first notes to the final chords Penelope was in totally empathy both with the music itself and the singer.

Kyle.Stegall was born to sing art songs. Years of study and performing have honed his ability.   Vocally he calls on a full palette of colour, range and control. Subtly he communicates through his face and body, helped by excellent diction, in whatever language he is singing, although I had take his Ukrainian on trust! 

When two virtuosi combine to produce such a program, then the invitation to watch football at the Adelaide Oval loses all allure.

With some notable  exceptions the art song in recital has been neglected in Adelaide. Hopefully this is about to change with the establishment of Magpie artsong  and the inaugural recital by Penelope Cashman and Kyle Stegall. Other recitals are planned including one by Pelham Andrews later in the year.