Impromptus

The Sydney Schubert Society Impromptus is our newsletter. This is the February 2008 edition:

  Schubert Impromptus

Dear Members and Friends,

 I trust this letter finds you well and looking forward to our Schubertiades in 2008. Unfortunately, I have not been able to conclude the planning for all details of the 2008 Schubertiades at this stage, but I will be able to advise you about all programs at our first meeting on March 2 2008.

 On March 2 2008,  2.45 pm (St. Peters Presbyterian Church, North Sydney) I am very pleased to present a lecture performance with the support of the wonderful young singer Simone Easthope and our own magnificent pianist Jeanell Carrigan on the topic of  “Schubert and the demons of Romanticism”. Romanticism is a topic which interests me greatly as I believe it was of decisive cultural, artistic and spiritual importance for Schubert as it is for our time. Depending on one’s view of Romanticism we may see it extending from the late 18^th century into our times. Schubert, of course, was a child of the early Romantic age and I am hoping to explore these connections from a variety of angles on March 2. Naturally we will perform plenty of music for violin, piano and voice to illustrate the journey through Romanticism including works by Schubert, Brahms, Schumann and even a work by Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher who some say brought Romanticism to a close.

 I hope you may find this topic interesting and will consider attending and perhaps inviting a friend along. The dates for the remaining Schubertiades in 2008 which you may wish to note in your diary are as follows:

May 4 (St. Peters, North Sydney)

August 3 (St. Peters, North Sydney)

October 5 (St. Peters, North Sydney)

December 7 (Goethe Institute)

 As a preview, I am excited to let you know that we will again be able to welcome the wonderful young singers from Maree Ryan’s Conservatorium Class. I am also very pleased that the brilliant Sydney flautist Emma Scholl will perform for us in December. Further details will be available at our first meeting on March 2 and following that on our website and in our next newsletter.

 I look forward to seeing you at the Schubertiade on March 2 2008.

  With very best wishes and warm regards,

Goetz Richter, President