Classical Californians: Anna Schubert

Photo of Anna Schubert by JD Renes 

This week’s Classical Californian, Anna Schubert, is a soprano vocalist based in L.A., who is comfortable with repertoire both new and old – having performed widely as a soloist in traditional concert repertoire, as well as creating the role of Bibi in the world premiere of Ellen Reid’s opera p r i s m, which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in music. She’s also sung with the innovative L.A. based company The Industry, as well as being a member of the LA Master Chorale. Her selections show that range: a medieval choral work by Guillaume de Machaut, and an aria by Handel, but also a solo piano work by Debussy that her father played. There’s a Samuel Barber song that reminds her of a dear cat; a work by Arvo Pärt that takes her back to a performance with the Master Chorale, as well as an evocative moment from Duruflé’s Requiem, and a scene from p r i s m.

The singer begins with the lone piece that’s not a work for voice – Debussy’s Reverie… Click the play button to hear her introduction!

Next it’s some early music, also inspired by her father’s musical interests – a motet by Guillaume de Machaut called “De souspirant cuer”…

Then, in keeping with ancient musicians, a song called “The Monk and his Cat” by Samuel Barber – which inspired the name of a furry friend of Anna Schubert.

Here’s a scene from the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by Ellen Reid (and librettist Roxie Perkins)  called p r i s m… featuring Anna and Rebecca Jo Loeb.

She learned this Handel aria “Tu del ciel ministro eletto” (sung here by Sabine Devieilhe) for a recent Long Beach Opera production called “The Feast” directed by James Darrah…

Arvo Pärt’s Beatitudes reminds her of her first concert with the LA Master Chorale,  with chorus and an organ that can shake the biggest of concert halls…

Another work for organ and choir, the satisfyingly unresolved “In Paradisum” from Duruflé’s Requiem.

A web extra… a brief song from Franz Schubert’s Winterreise, Die Krähe, (The Crow) with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore…

And a final closing thought…