Lise Davidsen with James Baillieu

Soul-searching with Schubert.

This is an evening where everything is laid bare. No emotion is too small, nor too big. In other words: it is time for Franz Schubert. The Austrian composer lived only 31 years, yet he managed to leave behind more than 600 songs before his death in 1828.

“There is a divine spark in him,” said Ludwig van Beethoven of Schubert. His music is imbued with longing, despair, and helplessness. And yet, beneath it all sings love - impossible love, and possible love. This is part of Schubert’s brilliance: the way he reveals the ambiguity in every question and every life choice, letting longing, hope, and love reflect and refract through one another.

And the voice of love this evening is that of Lise Davidsen. Together with pianist James Baillieu, she delves into some of Schubert’s most introspective and emotionally profound songs.

The world-renowned soprano was named Festival musician at the 2023 Bergen International Festival, where she captivated audiences in the title role of the opening production, Tosca.

‘Davidsen sings with painful and heart-wrenching intensity about how young love is, in an instant, transformed into all-consuming tragedy,’ wrote Aftenposten when the duo appeared at the Festival in 2023.

Image on top: Lise Davidsen. Photo: James Hole

Contributors

• Lise Davidsen vocals
• James Baillieu piano

Music by

• Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Works

• Franz Schubert (1797—1828)
  Am Bach im Frühling, D. 361, text: Franz von Schober
  Ganymed, D. 544, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Der Zwerg, D. 771, text: Matthäus von Collin
  Gretchen am Spinnrade, op. 2, D. 118, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Mignon (Kennst du das Land), D. 321, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  From 4 Gesänge aus 'Wilhelm Meister', D. 877: Heiß mich nicht reden, no. 2, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  So laßt mich scheinen, no. 3, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, no. 4, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Der Tod und das Mädchen, D. 531, text: Matthias Claudius
• Interval
• Franz Schubert (1797—1828)
  Der Musensohn, D. 764, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Lachen und Weinen, op. 59 no. 4, D. 777, text: Friedrich Rückert
  Suleika I, D. 720, text: Marianne von Willemer
  Auf dem See, D. 543, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Der blinde Knabe, D. 833, text: Johann Gabriel Seidl
  Du bist die Ruh, op. 59 no. 3, D. 776, text: Friedrich Rückert
  Die Allmacht, D. 852, text: Johann Ladislaus Pyrker
  Die junge Nonne, op. 43 no. 1, D. 828, text: Jakob Nikolaus Craigher de Jachelutta
  Erlkönig, op. 1, D. 328, text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen, D. 343, text: Johann Georg Jacobi