In association with Concerts SA, South African baritone Conroy Cupido and British pianist Yoon Chung will be performing pieces by Franz Schubert in recital during a tour across four venues in three South African provinces.
The goal of this collaboration is to promote the art song genre through the country, building audiences and also providing master classes to younger singers and pianists. These master classes will be presented at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.
Introducing the collaboration, Dr. Cupido says: "Yoon Chung and I first performed together in Dallas, Texas over 10 years ago. He is a phenomenal pianist who combines passion, bravura and sensitivity; ideal when collaborating with singers."
Following the spirit of the schubertiades (events held to celebrate the music of Franz Schubert), the programme of their joint recital of piano and voice will exclusively feature works by Schubert, namely Four Impromptus D.899, excerpts from Die Schöne Müllerin, Piano Sonata D. 958, and selected pieces from Schwanengesang.
Dr. Cupido adds that "Schubert is often regarded as the cornerstone of the Lied genre. His music has the ability to transfer the texts of poets such as Goethe, Rellstab, Heine, Müller and Seidl to a visceral musical world. He mastered the art of text-painting through melody, rhythm and harmony, equally in the voice and piano, making the music almost tangible to both performer and listener."
Conroy Cupido holds degrees from Stellenbosch University, Southern Methodist University and a Doctorate in Music from The University of North Texas. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Voice at North West University. He has performed nationally and internationally with opera companies, orchestras and in concerts. He has adjudicated for SAMRO on various occasions for their national and overseas competitions/scholarships.
Pianist Yoon Chung has performed throughout Europe, Japan, Korea and the United States. In the UK, he has appeared in prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, the South Bank Centre, Kings Place, St. John’s Smith Square, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Bridgewater Hall, St. James’s Piccadilly, and Waterfront Hall. His performances have been broadcast in the UK, France, the United States, Japan and Korea.
