Musica Viva Australia presents A Winter’s Journey – an exciting intersection of music, storytelling and visual art – across the country from 12th to 27th July before staging the work in London at the famed Barbican Centre as part of the UK/Australia Season.
A Winter’s Journey brings together celebrated British tenor Allan Clayton (who recently garnered acclaim for his performance of Peter Grimes at London’s Royal Opera House) with pianist Kate Golla, and awardwinning director Lindy Hume. Videographer David Bergman (STC’s The Picture of Dorian Grey) animates huge digital screens with works from the late Australian painter Fred Williams.
Winterreise is an emotional charged song cycle written by Franz Schubert. Using the poems of the German writer Wilhelm Müller, Schubert created an emotional journey of a man trekking across frozen rivers and snowy landscapes, lamenting his lost love. Artistic Director of Musica Viva Australia Paul Kildea states: ‘In this new production I want to explore creatively what this masterwork means in Australia in the 21st Century. Winterreise is a monument to 19th century culture, yet icy European winters are not often experienced by people in Australia, who instead experience red earth and confronting wilderness.
Reviews of Allan Clayton’s most recent performance in Peter Grimes include: ‘He has the beauty of voice, the versatility and stamina to master every challenge this role throws at him’ The Guardian: Clayton is vocally outstanding…powerful, sensitive’ (The Times). Immediately before Winter’s Journey, Allan is performing in Brett Dean’s Hamlet at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Clayton has received an accolade of prestigious awards, including The Queen’s Commendation for Excellence and a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship. Most recently, he was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday honours list.
Musica Viva Australia has been invited to present this stunningly vibrant new work at the Barbican in London on Wednesday 7 December, marking the company’s first performance at Europe’s largest multi-arts venue. Tickets are available via the Musica Viva website.
DATES AND VENUES
12th July – Perth Concert Hall, 7:30pm
14th July – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, 7pm
16th & 19th July – Melbourne Recital Centre, 7pm
21st July – Adelaide Town Hall, 7:30pm
23rd July – City Recital Hall, Sydney, 2pm
25th July – City Recital Hall, Sydney, 7pm
27th July – Llewellyn Hall, ANU, Canberra, 7pm
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