Guest Artists | Alice Coote and Julius Drake

Schubert’s ‘Winterreise’

World-renowned mezzo-soprano Alice Coote is regarded as one of the great artists of our day. Equally famed on the great operatic stages as in concert and recital, she has been hailed as the “superlative British mezzo” (San Francisco Chronicle). Her performances have been described as “breathtaking in (their) sheer conviction and subtlety of perception” (The Times[U.K.]) and her voice as “beautiful, to be sure, but, more importantly, it thrills you to the marrow.” (The Daily Telegraph).

Pianist Julius Drake lives in London and enjoys an international reputation as one of the finest instrumentalists in his field, collaborating with many of the world’s leading artists, both in recital and on disc.

For this program, Coote and Drake will perform Schubert’s Winterreise, a song cycle setting 24 poems by German lyric poet Wilhelm Müller. One of Schubert’s two great song cycles, it was written in the last months of his life.

Drake will conduct a collaborative master class with teams of student pianists and singers from 1:10pm-2:25pm,  Tuesday, February 7, in Steve & Judy Turner Recital Hall. Participation in the class is limited to Blair students by audition, but the public is welcome to attend and observe.

Sponsored by the Mary Cortner Ragland Master Series Fund

This event is free and open to the public. Parking for this event is available for free in West Garage (2500 Children’s Way) through the Children’s Way entrance.

Source: Submitted