'A Charm of Lullabies' marks series return

'A Charm of Lullabies' marks series return

Y. Bintang Prakarsa, Contributor, Jakarta

Last year's highly acclaimed Art Song Series is making a
comeback through two concerts, which will both be held at the
elegant Bentara Budaya in Jakarta.

A special program will be presented on Friday of 20th century
English art songs from the war years, including Britten's A Charm
of Lullabies, sung by English contralto Katrine Roberts, with
Avip Priatna on the piano.

Roberts has been a regular in Jakarta's concert scene for some
time now, though this will be the first time she has participated
in the series. Her repertoire has mainly focused on opera,
although her first collaboration with Avip and the Parahyangan
Catholic University Choir back in 1999 saw her work with the
music of Handel.

Now, following a serious illness, she finds meaning in
intimate art songs, English rather than German or French, which
the series' devoted audience has become familiar with.

Roberts' performance will include works from famous composers
such as Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Britten, as well as lesser
known musicians like Herbert Howells, renowned for his choral
works, and Roger Quilter and Peter Warlock, who contributed much
to the repertoire of English works of that time.

Avip is already a household name in Indonesia and was one of
the main attractions during the last series. Last September, just
hours after the announcement of a performance with his choir, the
Batavia Madrigal Singers, tickets were sold out.

The event organizer, Yasmina Zulkarnain, then scheduled an
unplanned second performance, which also sold out.

Avip's role as pianist should surprise no one, for he has
accompanied the Singers on several occasions. This time, however,
he will only play and not conduct.

Having presented the first series at Erasmus Huis, Yasmina
Zulkarnain and artistic director Iswargia R. Sudarno decided to
collaborate with Bentara Budaya, the cultural foundation of
Kompas daily.

They were taking a risk. Before the second series' inaugural
recital, featuring the delicate soprano Aning Katamsi Asmoro and
brilliant young guitarist Sudirman Leman, the main hall of
Bentara Budaya's building had never been used for music
performances.

The result was surprisingly beautiful. The acoustics proved
perfect for chamber music, amplifying the sound while preserving
its warmth and intimacy. This exquisite hall is part of a
building constructed in 1986, which was designed by priest and
architect Y.B. Mangunwijaya to complement a hundred-year-old
wooden house relocated from Kudus, Central Java, to the site.

The series' November performance will feature Binu D. Sukaman
singing French chansons, accompanied by pianist Iswargia R.
Sudarno and a string quartet.