The Richard Wagner Society will present Franz Schubert’s dramatic, even operatic, song cycle, Winterreise. This fundraising recital, in aid of the Richard Wagner’s Young Performers Fund, will be sung by baritone Robert Brooks and accompanied by pianist Gisela de Villiers and will take place at 37 Kingsgate, 301 Beach Road, Sea Point on Sunday, February 26 at 6pm.
The song cycle comprises a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller and following the similarly popular Die schöne Müllerin.
Robert Brooks, winner of the International Singing Competition of the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, sang widely in the most prestigious concert halls in Europe and gave many performances of this particular song cycle, before returning to South Africa to set up MIAGI (Music is a Great Investment’),which works closely to introduce and share music with the thousands of impoverished youth in our communities. Ms De Villiers ia a composer and cabaret artist as well as a top performer on her own and as an accompanist.
RWS Young Performers Fund
She has specialised in the study and performance of many works by Franz Schubert, and recently performed Winterreise at the UNISA Concert Series in Pretoria, and also for the Austrian Cultural Centre in Prague, Czech Republic, a year ago, together with Brooks. Brooks and Ms De Villiers have generously donated their fee to the RWS Young Performers Fund which assists talented students’ with overseas travel and competition expenses. There will also be a raffle to raise further funds with prizes of accommodation at Castle Colona and a painting by Klaus Schilling.
What: Winterreise fundraiser sung by baritone Robert Brooks and accompanied by pianist Gisela de Villiers
Where: 37 Kingsgate, 301 Beach Road, Sea Point
When: Sun, Feb 26, 6pm
Tickets: R240 for members, R260 for guests and include a finger supper and refreshments. Book: Jilly Cohen 082 459 6225, jillycohen@absamail.co.za
WS
