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 breath control and the ability to seamlessly transition between low and high registers. Schäfer, with decades of study, applies precise diaphragmatic breathing that allows him to sustain long phrases without losing color. The articulation of Wilhelm Müller's poetic text requires meticulous German phonetic 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 🎭
That a singing professor confesses to having been afraid of a work is like a plumber who runs away from a faucet. Schäfer, who teaches vocal technique daily, admits that Winterreise seemed like an emotional roller coaster to him. But in the end, even the masters have to put on the harness and let out the first note, even if it's with the hope that the piano won't go out of tune right at the most dramatic moment.