Media Release: World-renowned soprano Siobhan Stagg graces nipaluna/Hobart stage for one night only

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2024

Media Contact 

Samuel Cairnduff:  samuel.j.cairnduff@gmail.com | 0401 396 755

World-renowned soprano Siobhan Stagg graces nipaluna/Hobart stage for one night only 

Echoed Voices: An exclusive performance by Siobhan Stagg & Nico de Villiers, Tuesday, 23rd July, presented by Van Diemen’s Band

nipaluna/Hobart is set to be graced by the mesmerising voice of internationally acclaimed Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg in an exclusive, one-night-only performance. Joined by the brilliant South African pianist Nico de Villiers, Stagg will present a captivating recital featuring the works of Hageman, Strauss and Duparc.

Hailing from Mildura, Siobhan Stagg has taken the opera world by storm, having been a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin from 2013–19 and appearing as a guest artist in leading roles at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dutch National Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Festival d'Aix en Provence.

Nico de Villiers, a renowned concerto soloist and collaborative pianist, is recognised as a leading authority on the life and music of Dutch-born American composer Richard Hageman, who won an Academy Award in 1939 for his score for John Ford's film Stagecoach. In 2022, Stagg and de Villiers recorded Voices, the first album solely dedicated to Hageman's incredibly beautiful and diverse songs, which was selected as 'Editor's Choice' by Limelight.

In this extraordinary recital, Stagg and de Villiers will showcase their favourite works from their album alongside the music of Richard Strauss and Henri Duparc, whose distinctive musical language shaped and inspired the lush, post-Romantic sound world of Hollywood's Golden Age.

"The songs gathered here suit Stagg's soprano to a tee. Its innate expressivity makes it a voice that compels you to drop everything and listen." — Limelight.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience the enchanting artistry of Siobhan Stagg and Nico de Villiers in the heart of lutruwita/Tasmania.

Press are invited to review.

LISTINGS INFORMATION 

Siobhan Stagg & Nico de Villiers: Echoed Voices

Hobart Town Hall

Tue 23 July, 7.00 PM

TICKETS

Premium $79.00 Reserved Seating

A Reserve $69.00 Reserved Seating

B Reserve $59.00 Reserved Seating

$30 under 30 $30.00 Reserved Seating

BOOKINGS

https://events.humanitix.com/echoed-voices

Echoed Voices: National Tour

Friday, 19 July 2024, 7:00 PM Albert Hall, Yarralumla

Sunday, 21 July 2024, 2:30 PM UKARIA Cultural Centre

Tuesday, 23 July 2024, 7:00 PM Hobart Town Hall

Friday, 26 July 2024 In the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House

Sunday, 28 July 2024, 6:00 PM Mildura Arts Centre

PROGRAM

Richard Hageman (1881–1966)

Richard Strauss (1864–1949)

Henri Duparc (1848–1933)

Hageman 'Miranda' from Of Hope and Memory (2')

Hageman 'O Welt, du bist so wunderschön!' from Vier deutsche Gedichte (2')

Hageman 'Die Stadt' from Vier deutsche Gedichte (3')

Hageman 'Bettlerliebe' from Vier deutsche Gedichte (3')

Strauss 'Cäcilie' from Vier Lieder, Op. 27 (2')

Hageman 'Am himmelstor' from Vier deutsche Gedichte (3')

Strauss 'Morgen' from Vier Lieder, Op. 27 (4')

Strauss 'Ständchen' from Sechs Lieder, Op. 17 (2')

Hageman 'Charity' from Of Hope and Memory (2')

Hageman 'So Love Returns' from Five Robert Nathan Songs (5')

Strauss 'Allerseelen' from Acht Gedichte aus 'Letze Blätter', Op. 10 (3')

Strauss 'An die Nacht' from Sechs Lieder, Op. 68 (3')

INTERVAL

Hageman 'The Night Has a Thousand Eyes' (2')

Hageman 'May Night' from The Gardener (2')

Hageman 'Do Not Go, My Love' from The Gardener (3')

Hageman 'At the Well' from The Gardener (2')

Duparc 'Le manoir de Rosemonde' (3')

Hageman 'Il Passa' from Trois chansons françoises (3')

Duparc 'Extase' (3')

Hageman 'To cœur est un tombeau' from Trois chansons françoises (3')

Hageman 'Nocturne' from Trois chansons françoises (4')

Hageman 'Voices' from Of Hope and Memory (2')

Hageman 'Is it You?' from Five Robert Nathan Songs (3')

About Echoed Voices

Dutch-born composer Richard Hageman was actively acclaimed across Europe and the USA in the first half of the 20th century, as composer and pianist, and even as conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He even went on to win an Academy Award for Best Film Score. When he died in 1966 with no heir to carry forth his estate, his music was largely forgotten, save for the hit Do Not Go, My Love, which has been recorded by Kiri Te Kanawa, Thomas Hampson et al. 

Pianist Nico de Villiers, PhD, has spent the last 10 years trawling through university libraries across the globe and has collected 60+ of Hageman's largely forgotten songs, 26 of which we recorded on the album VOICES last year. The songs are incredibly beautiful and notably diverse—from soaring lyric ballads (Is it You?) to humorous ditties (The Owl and the Pussycat) to French chanson and German Lieder. 

As Nico and Siobhan prepared for the recording last year, they noticed how obviously influenced Hageman was by the songs of Richard Strauss and Henri Duparc. Sometimes it's the way he sets text to flatter the soprano melody, and other times the connection is more overt -- i.e. Strauss’ Morgen to Hageman's Betterliebe. These two piano introductions are so similar (rhythmically and harmonically), yet the melodic shape is inverted.The pair have weaved a program where the three composers are performed side by side to demonstrate their similarities and differences and we think it works beautifully. 

Siobhan Stagg

Siobhan Stagg, an acclaimed Australian soprano, has emerged as one of the most sought-after lyric artists of her generation. From 2013-19, she was a member of Deutsche Oper Berlin's ensemble, performing roles such as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, and Gilda in Rigoletto. Siobhan has graced prestigious stages worldwide, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opernhaus Zurich, and Hamburgische Staatsoper.

As a prized concert performer, Siobhan's highlights include collaborations with renowned orchestras such as the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, London Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, and Cleveland Orchestra. In the 2023/24 season, Siobhan will make her role debut at Opéra national de Lorraine as Ilia in Idomeneo, return to Deutsche Oper Berlin for Pamina, and perform in the new opera L'Autre Voyage at Opéra Comique and Opéra de Dijon.

Her upcoming concert engagements include performances with Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Gürzenich Orchester Köln, Pygmalion Ensemble, and Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. Siobhan will also return to Australia for solo recitals and collaborations with Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras.

In recognition of her international achievements, Siobhan was awarded the Key to the City of Mildura in 2023. She is passionate about education and talent development, having created the Siobhan Stagg Encouragement Awards for young singers and serving on the Board of the Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust.

Nico de Villiers

Nico de Villiers is a South African pianist, coach and author who studied at the Royal Scottish Academy, University of Michigan, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama on prestigious scholarships.

As a performer, Nico has appeared in major venues like the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Kennedy Center, and Amsterdam Concertgebouw. He has collaborated with renowned singers and performed at the Salzburg Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Oxford Lieder Festival, and Chopin Birthday Festival.

Nico is currently Deputy Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. He previously taught at the Guildhall School, Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatory, and University of Michigan. He has given masterclasses internationally and taught at summer programs like AIMS in Graz and the Peter Jablonski Piano Academy.

As a researcher, Nico champions neglected composers. He has performed and recorded works by Ernst von Dohnányi and André Tchaikowsky. In 2011, he founded the Richard Hageman Society to research the Dutch-American composer. Nico's PhD thesis explored Hageman's cosmopolitanism and artistic development. He co-authored the first Hageman biography and recorded an album of Hageman songs.

Nico publishes in music magazines, serves as editor-in-chief of the collaborative piano journal On Collaborating, and is an Associate Editor of VOICEPrints. His research sheds new light on lesser-known composers of the 20th century.

Full release, including biographies, available here.

Media Contact 

Samuel Cairnduff 

samuel.j.cairnduff@gmail.com 

0401 396 755