Come Friday, and the stage is set for a tribute concert to one of Western Classical music’s biggest contributors – Austrian composer Franz Peter Schubert. In a special concert presented by The Bangalore School of Music titled ‘Simply Schubert’, music lovers are in for a treat of epic proportions. Featuring the Bangalore Men, accomplished vocalist Jonas Olsson, noted singer Payal John and renowned pianist Natallia Kapylova, the concert will showcase the musical genius of Schubert and promises to transport you to the Romantic Era.
The Bangalore Men, an all-male vocal ensemble launched in January 2016, currently comprises 11 singers, all from different walks of life. Their focus is on Western Classical music, touching eras ranging from medieval music to contemporary, and is conducted by Jonas Olsson. Pune-based Payal John started singing Indian Classical music when she was nine years old. In 2000 she joined the Delhi Christian Chorus and in 2001 decided to train further in Western Classical Music. She is a lyric soprano and her repertoire includes opera, sacred classical music and lieder. Jonas Olsson is a specialist in sacred concert music. Living in Bengaluru since many years, he is currently a teacher at The Bangalore School of Music, where he also leads The Bangalore Men. Belarus-born Natallia Kapylova has been hailed as a concert pianist of exceptional, brilliant and dazzling ability. She commenced her piano training at the age of seven. Ever since she moved to India in 2002, she has been working with select groups of students in Bengaluru, to prepare them for various programmes, competitions and music examinations.
Jonas explains that he called the concert ‘Simply Schubert’ since it is only music by him. “I thought it was witty,” he says with a laugh adding: “I got the idea for this project six months ago when we had just launched the choir. Schubert has written more than 140 pieces for male choir. He is one of the composers with the biggest production of music for men. So we decided to combine them with these art songs called Lieder in German together with piano music. And voila! We have an amazing concert!”
Payal echoes the same excitement. “This is the first time I’m teaming up with an all-male choir. So there will be no egos or competition,” she quips. “The songs are each very different. When you listen to the entire concert, it is an experience in itself. It is a complete package.”
Jonas points out that what makes the Austrian composer unique is that he wrote music about feelings that everyone experiences.
“It’s not fictional or mythical. He wrote about love, anger, joy and so on. That is what makes the music unique. You can relate to it easily. I also think that we have a responsibility to carry on a heritage. This is music composed almost 250 years ago. If we don’t do this, it will die. We have to promote this music. We don’t do this just for fun or for people to enjoy. We also do it to preserve and carry forward a rich heritage. That is extremely important. In that perspective, this concert becomes rather big.”
Payal, who hails from an Indian Classical background says church and choral music had a deep impact on her. “I’m a Sardarni. I became Christian when I was 16 years old. And music was at the heart of it. That is how my journey started. I love to sing with the choir. That is my root. I’ll never forget that. That is what led me to Jonas when I met him first and asked him for a masterclass.” Jonas pitches in: “And the rest is history! Here we are, doing a concert together!”
On working with Natallia, the duo choruses that she is an amazing pianist. “What I really like about her is, having being brought up in the Russian School, she is very meticulous, to-the-point, firm and extremely professional. She has a very good sense of humour as well, despite being so firm,” Jonas laughs.
Natallia catches up later and says she is always excited about any of her upcoming programmes. “This concert, dedicated to Schubert, is very special. He is different from other composers. Though his life was very short and he died before his 32nd birthday, he had a very bright life and proved to be musical genius. This concert, with a focus on just one composer, will definitely be one that the audience will love.”
Catch Simply Schubert on August 19 from 7.30 p.m. onwards at Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Vasanth Nagar. Tickets on bookmyshow. The concert will also be held at Jagan Mohan Palace, Mysore, on August 21 and Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, on August 27.
