German tenor Markus Schäfer, also a singing professor in Hanover, will perform Franz Schubert's song cycle Winterreise at the VIII MallorcÒpera Festival. The performances will take place on May 5 and 9 in Palma and Pollença, accompanied by pianist Francesc Blanco. Schäfer confesses that for a long time he did not dare to tackle this work, considered technically demanding due to its wide tonal range.
Vocal technique as the driving force of the work 🎵
Winterreise demands absolute control of breath support and the ability to transition seamlessly between low and high registers. Schäfer, with decades of study, applies precise diaphragmatic breathing that allows sustaining long phrases without losing color. The articulation of Wilhelm Müller's poetic text requires meticulous German phonetics work, where every consonant counts. Pianist Francesc Blanco must synchronize dynamics that reflect the winter landscape, from storms to frozen silences.
The stage fright of the singing professor 🎭
For a singing professor to confess having feared a work is like a plumber avoiding a faucet. Schäfer, who teaches vocal technique daily, admits that Winterreise seemed like an emotional roller coaster to him. But in the end, even masters have to put on the harness and release the first note, even if it's with the hope that the piano doesn't go out of tune right at the most dramatic moment.