SCHANDE! Schubert Lieder in scenic staging. At The Nassau Centre, Groote Schuur High School – Hout Bay High School: Bloekombos Secondary school and Johnson Ngwevela Hall, Langa; Palesa Maliloa, Christine Bam, Nick de Jager, Ronald Melato with Albie van Schalkwyk (piano). Presented by Umculo and The Songmaker’s Guild, directed by Kobie van Rensburg.
DEON IRISH reviews
Kobie van Rensburg is himself a tenor of note, with an impressive discography and a string of internationally acclaimed performances to his name. He has in recent years turned increasingly towards directing and the fruits of his experience both as singer and theatrical creator were abundant in this compelling presentation.
For many readers, an announced afternoon of Schubert lieder might engender an expectation of mannered civility; of beguiling vocal melodies with intriguing pianistic accompaniments, all quite suitable for great aunts and children alike.
The darker side of Schubert’s oeuvre
Well, in this semi-dramatized staging, Van Rensburg has concentrated on the darker side of Schubert’s oeuvre, to gripping effect. Oh, the melodies are certainly there: Schubert is seemingly incapable of stringing any five notes together without a memorable result. But given the choice of texts and the composer’s incomparable ability to reflect the essence of such in his extraordinarily innovative accompaniments, this programme reflected an altogether more disturbed, even despairing mien.
The title given to the production (Disgrace or, in Afrikaans, Skande) might be derived from the composer’s frequently humiliating battle with the syphilis which was to kill him at a mere 31 years old and his resultant musical analysis – even portrayal – of the concept of death. But the songs – which date from amongst his earliest to some of his latest writings – are certainly not all infused with self-examination and are, in part, certainly a natural response to the existential questions thrown up by texts which appealed to him because of their musical possibilities.
I experienced one of the presentations at the Nassau Centre. Although a relatively sophisticated stage venue, the production was designed to be taken into schools and community halls and was therefore designed with a minimal of in-house technical requirements.
The singers and pianist were all accommodated on a modest stage with a large electronic screen as backdrop. Digitalized images were displayed on this, either depicting a scene suggested by the lyrics, or an interpretation of such having more contemporary, local and – particularly for schools – probably more accessible relevance.
Unfailingly intriguing
I thought the hero of the afternoon was pianist van Schalkwyk: onstage throughout some 90 minutes, he provided a string of accompaniments which were ever supportive, unfailingly intriguing, and possessed of a quite unerring sense of the textual implications and appropriate stylistic piano response.
All four singers did well: Maliloa’s lyric soprano a smoothly flexible instrument, never over-bearing and with (almost) unfailing intonational security. She was matched by Bam’s warm mezzo tones, a voice attaining considerable presence even at restrained dynamic levels.
The men were both splendid. De Jager has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and is singing with an assured ease which is beguiling. Melato’s bass-baritone was, for me, the find of the afternoon. I have not heard this young artist before, but certainly hope to enjoy his beautifully focussed voice on future occasions. He has an exceptional range and – other than for a slightly constrained sound at Schubert’s unforgivingly high top notes – sang with consistent musical excellence.
All four singers should be congratulated on their impeccable diction – something that struck me forcibly after enduring the nigh-unintelligible diction of most of the cast of Tiger Bay just the evening before.
Who: The Songmakers’ Guild and Umculo
What: SCHANDE! SKANDE! / SHAME!/ IHLAZO!
Info: info@capefestival.com
WS
