While the themes of both works are macabre and dark: the music is magnificent and this will be a spectacular performance, staged in the round in the historic and starkly beautiful C Wing of Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast.
Baritone Brendan Collins and pianist Tristan Russcher perform Mussorgsky’s masterpiece, staged in the round. ‘Songs and Dances of Death‘ is a set of four songs: ‘Lullaby’, ‘Serenade’ ‘Trepak’ and ‘Field Marshall’, each telling a story where Death is personified, appearing to four different people on the cusp of life and death. This performance will be in English.
Mezzo-soprano Margaret Bridge and pianist Tristan Russcher perform a staged version of Mahler’s beautiful ‘Kindertotenlieder‘ (Songs on the Death of Children), a set of five songs based around the work of the poet Rückert written after the death of his two of his children. These songs explore the feelings and processes of grief, and will be performed in German.
This event is part of NI Opera’s new Salon Series: six one act productions featuring opera, art song, cabaret and music theatre, which will be performed in spectacular locations around Northern Ireland during 2023.
