Bariton Raoul Steffani won the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours Vakjuryprijs 2016. For his concert in the recently restored Uilenburgersjoel, he will explore together with pianist Gabrielka Clout the boundaries of the art of the romantic song. From Robert Schumanns romantic song cycle ‘Liederkreis opus 39', composed in 1840 and based on poetry by Joseph von Eichendorff to the ‘Vier Lieder opus 2' by Alban Berg, composed around 1910. The 25 year old Berg clearly follows the path to the 20th century atonality, thus slowly leaving the late romantic idiom behind.
There is also a remarkable variety geographically. Two famous Swedish songs from the Finland born composer Jean Sibelius and one of Ricard Strauss’ funniest songs 'Ach weh mir unglückhaftem Mann'.
The jury on Raoul Steffani: “The award goes to someone who has surprised us with an achievement at a very young age, his wonderful voice, his fine diction and the stories he tells us.”
Dit concert maakt onderdeel uit van de serie Grachtenfestival Lanceert. Deze serie is mede mogelijk gemaakt door Fonds Henri Fock van het Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, de Stichting SEC en de Ambassadeurs van het Grachtenfestival.