Stamford International Music Festival 19th - 22nd May 2022

The second of SIMFestival’s seven 2022 concerts is one not to be missed. Often considered Schoenberg's most celebrated work, ‘Verklarte Nacht’ was composed in 1899 during his early twenties, the same age as many of the performers in this concert!

Schoenberg - Transfigured Night ‘Verklarte Nacht’ Op.4

Musicians

Freya Goldmark violin/director

Charlotte Saluste Bridoux violin

Francesca Gilbert viola

Edgar Francis viola

Maxim Calver cello

Peteris Sokolovskis cello

The work is based on Richard Dehmel’s love poem of the same name. Beginning with a woman’s anguished confession to her lover that she is pregnant by another man. In pursuing what she thought was her only chance at happiness—motherhood—she feels that now, having met her true love, fate is punishing her.

With her confession, the man and woman embark on a journey of transfiguration that takes them through the darkness of the forest in five uninterrupted movements. The man’s initial consoling response to his lover’s words is reflected in mellow, deep-toned lines that are followed by a rapturous love duet. The transition from guilt through forgiveness brings them to an ecstatic union that goes beyond the physical impulse of love to something deeper: their love, the man assures her, will make the child his.

Tickets £12, Free for U18’s accompanied by an adult

Duration 40min