Lydians presents ‘Winterreise’ at Little Carib

This weekend the Lydian Singers, in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, will honour the late Pat Bishop, who until her sudden passing on August 20 was the choir’s musical director, by continuing with plans for two concerts featuring tenor Edward Cumberbatch and pianist Lindy-Ann Bodden-Ritch.

One of this country’s foremost cultural icons, Dr Patricia Bishop collapsed during a meeting of the Panel of High Level Experts Culture and Creative Arts and died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

The holder of this country’s highest honour, the Trinity Cross (renamed the Order of the Republic of TT), Bishop has been lauded for her work as a musician, painter, historian, media commentator, and cultural activist. She has worked with several steelbands including Renegades, Desperadoes, Exodus, and others, as well as with several musical and cultural groups and organisations.

Cumberbatch and Bodden-Ritch will perform a cycle of songs, “Winterreise” by composer Franz Schubert. The concerts will take place at the Little Carib Theatre, corner White and Roberts streets, Woodbrook tomorrow and Sunday from 5.30 pm on both days.

In the early 19th century, Schubert set to music a narrative poem by his contemporary, Wilhelm Müller, creating the song cycle “Winterreise” (Winter Journey), a sequence of 24 songs for voice and piano. The theme of the story — heartbreak — and the mood — reflection — are as universal as they are timeless. Imaginative interpretation and performance are the means by which classical works are made fresh and new to audiences over time and place.

The performance will be enlivened by dance, choreographed by Patricia Roe of the Caribbean School of Dancing, and featuring Allison Seepaul and Mondira Balkaransingh.