Maarten Koningsberger (baritone) & Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)
In Winterreise (Winter Journey) - Song cycle by Franz Schubert
Thursday 21 August 2014
Odeion
19:30
Maarten has established a successful European career in opera and song recitals in a wide repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Maderna. He studied music in Amsterdam. His teachers have been Max von Egmond, Udo Reinemann and Margreet Honig. After graduation, he joined the School of Lyric Art of the Opéra de Paris. This gave him the opportunity to sing in several opera productions in France and Italy. His recital repertoire is similarly broad and includes mastery of standard and period performance styles. As a solo recitalist, he is often accompanied by major artists such as Irwin Gage and Graham Johnson and has recorded CD programs of songs by Schubert, Schumann and Milhaud and solo cantatas by Campra and Blankenburg.
Critics assess his voice as well suited to the intimacy of the song form with a compelling quality even in quiet passages. His voice is characterized as lyrical, warm and deep, yet with the authentic baritone rather than bass quality. Koningsberger has broadcast on several European radio companies and teaches at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Baroque Music Center in Versailles (France). He records for the Hyperion label and has participated in the company's epochal traversal of the entire song literature of Franz Schubert.
Albie van Schalkwyk has established himself as performer in a number of fields over the past 30 years. One of the leading chamber musicians and vocal accompanists in South Africa, he has also performed as soloist with SA orchestras, performed solo recitals, given masterclasses for singers and accompanists, worked as a music producer for the SABC and arranged music for various combinations.
After completing his BMus degree at the University of Cape Town with Lamar Crowson, he studied in London under Geoffrey Parsons, Gwenneth Pryor and Martino Tirimo. During this period he won the UNISA Overseas Scholarship as well as first prize in the SABC Music Prize Piano Competition. Back in SA he took up a position as official accompanist and producer at the SABC. He has been a member of several well-known SA ensembles. His partnership with Austrian cellist Heidi Litschauer has produced two major tours through South Africa and annual visits to Austria. He has also performed all over South Africa with visiting international artists such as Elly Ameling (soprano), Maarten Koningsberger (baritone), Peter-Lukas Graf (flute), Emma Johnson (clarinet), Christian Altenburger (violin) and Raphael Wallfisch (cello). His interest in vocal music and the art song in particular has led to many fulfilling concert partnerships with singers, culminating in the formation in 1994 of The Songmakers' Guild.
Programme: Franz Schubert – Winterreise (Winter Journey)
Admission:
R100 (adults)
R80 (pensioners)
R60 (UFS staff)
R40 (students and learners)
R40 (group bookings of 10+)
Tickets available at Computicket.
Enquiries:
Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 – 401 2504)