An avid song composer, Nikolai Medtner set a large collection of over 100 German and Russian poems to music, including the works of Goethe, Eichendorff, Pushkin, Tyutchev and Lermontov. Demanding to both pianists and singers, Medtner’s art songs are masterpieces for the duo that have rarely been performed. To showcase the composer’s musical intellect, instrumental prowess and heavenly melodies, this concert features his most creative and substantial works for piano and voice, in which their grandeur and symphonic nature are complemented by the lightly “orchestrated” songs of Rachmaninoff and Mahler.
PROGRAM
Overture-Ballade, Remembrances and Prayers
Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951)
Piano Sonata in G minor, Op. 22
Tenebroso, sempre affrettando
Allegro assai
Interlude
Allegro assai
– Ching Pong (Dono) Ng, piano
The Muse, from 7 Pushkin Poems, Op. 29 No. 1 (with English translation by Edna Iles)
Selections from Reiselied, Op. 61
– Galatea Kneath, soprano
– Alexandra Boyling, cello
– Ching Pong (Dono) Ng, piano
Songs of the Angels
The Angel, Op. 1bis (Lermentov)
Sonata-vocalise in C major, Op. 41, No.1 (with Motto by Goethe)
– Galatea Kneath, soprano
– Ching Pong (Dono) Ng, piano
Earthly life and Heavenly Pleasure
Songs arranged by Ching Pong (Dono) Ng for chamber musicians of Sydney
Conservatorium and Cassandra Doyle, mezzo-soprano
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1973)
Lilacs, from 12 Romances, Op. 21, No. 5
Spring Waters, from 12 Romances, Op. 14, No. 11
Nikolai Medtner (1880 – 1951)
The Angel, Prologue from 8 Stimmungsbilder (Mood Pictures), Op.1, No. 1
Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911)
Finale from Symphony No. 4, “Das himmlische Leben” (Heavenly Life)
PERFORMERS
Ching Pong (Dono) Ng, piano
Galatea Kneath, soprano
Alexandra Boyling, cello
Cassandra Doyle, mezzo-soprano
Andrew Wang, violin
Benjamin Lam, violin
Justin Wang, clarinet
Rena Tang, cello
Running Time: approx. 60 minutes
