So classical music of the past few centuries has been by men, but a forthcoming concert will look at a famous work by Robert Schumann from a fascinating female perspective.
Starring one of Australia’s foremost sopranos Antoinette Halloran, with internationally acclaimed pianist Coady Green, A Woman’s Life and Love is at Hawthorn Arts Centre at 2.30pm on Sunday (Feb. 20).
The concert will feature Schumann’s much loved 1840 song cycle, Frauenliebe und Leben, and also One Life Stand, which is an exciting, contemporary reimagining of the story of life and love from a modern female perspective.
The second work is a collaboration between award winning British composer CherylFrances-Hoad and Hercule Poirot Mystery crime writer, Sophie Hannah.
Soprano Antoinette Halloran thinks that the pairing of these two song cycles is genius.
“Some of us who still love to sing the Schumann have copped some criticism as it not being a feminist piece, as it is written by men … just because something is OLD doesn’t mean it is antiquated in its ideas, and a clever interpretation can work wonders on most texts.”
The poems that make up One Life Stand include such witty titles as The Pros and Cons and Rubbish at Adultery.
Pianist Coady Green says that this new cycle finds inspiration in Schumann’s extraordinary music, but offers a contemporary, fresh and updated take on the text.
“Putting these two wonderful works side-by-side offers a kaleidoscopic musical experience, but also an interesting juxtaposition of two profoundly different texts from two very different eras,” Coady says.
A Woman’s Life and Love is the first event in the Lieder Society of Victoria’s 2022 concert series and takes place in the Chandelier Room, Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn at 2.30 pm Sunday (Feb. 20).
Bookings: https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/womans-life-and-love-one-life-standantoinette-halloran-and-coady-green-recitalEVENT

• Julie Houghton