RECITAL: REFLECTION – CAROLINE TAYLOR, soprano; SEBASTIAN ISSLER, piano
The programme revolves around water and its reflections. We remember happier times spent in nature, then move through evening into the realm of water spirits who draw us into the depths. Berg’s iconic cycle is the second half of our programme, reflecting in solitude on a life lived in nature’s beauty and darkness.
The general feeling we would like to create is one of being drawn to water, being lured into it, and then under it, moving from light to dark – and increasingly solitary. We chose Strauss’ “Morgen!” as a possible encore to provide the sense of a new day breaking by the waves and dramatic tension finally being eased.
Programme:
Schubert – “Auf dem See”, (Op. 29, No. 2; D. 543)
Introduction to the recital, explanation of the theme and narrative
Schubert – “Im Frühling” (Op. Post 101, No. 1; D. 882)
Rachmaninov – From 12 Romances, Op. 21
5. “Lilacs”
7. “How fair this spot”
11. “Spring Waters”
Moving from day to night by the water, magic appears and lures you in
Schubert – “Abendbilder” (D. 650)
Clarke, Rebecca – “The Seal Man”
Liszt – “Der Fischerknabe” (S. 292, No. 1)
*Short walk off and walk on
Berg – Sieben frühe Lieder
1. “Nacht”
2. “Schilflied”
3. “Die Nachtigall”
4. “Traumgekrönt”
5. “Im Zimmer”
6. “Liebesode’
7. “Sommertage”
Encore
Strauss, Richard – “Morgen!”
British soprano Caroline Taylor graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with Distinction, where she won the Joyce and Michael Kennedy Strauss Award. A keen performer of Czech repertoire, she won the 2021 Emmy Destinn Award for Czech Opera and Song and the 2023 Off West End Opera Performance Award with Hampstead Garden Opera for Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, in which she played the title role.
Praised for her “glittering soprano” (The Times), Caroline’s recent season highlights include Fauré’s Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria at the Caird Hall, Dundee, solo recitals at the Royal Ballet and Opera (Royal Opera House) with Fran Hills and at Goldsmiths’ Hall with Roger Vignoles and operatic roles at Longborough Festival Opera and the Grange Festival, Hampshire. She is a City Music Foundation Artist, a Making Music Recommended Artist for 2024-2026 and a former member of the Wigmore Hall French Song Exchange and Oxford International Song Festival Young Artist Programme.
Sebastian Issler, a distinguished Swiss pianist and the inaugural pianist-in-residence at the City Music Foundation in London, won the Jean Meikle Prize for Best Duo with soprano Anna Cavaliero at the 2022 Wigmore Hall/Bollinger International Song Competition and the Paul Hamburger Prize for Lieder – awarded by Graham Johnson – in the same year. A finalist at the International Schubert Competition in Dortmund, among others, Issler has also won several prizes at the Swiss Youth Music Competition.
Together with his duo partners, Issler has performed at major venues such as Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Milton Court Concert Hall, Barts Heritage Great Hall and Tonhalle Zurich, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Abbey Library of Saint Gall, as well as at leading festivals such as Origen Festival Cultural, International Lied Festival Zeist, LIEDBasel Festival and Liedrezital Zurich. He also regularly performs as a soloist and is known for his collaboration in masterclasses with renowned figures such as Brigitte Fassbaender and Thomas Hampson.
Caroline and Sebastian were brought together through City Music Foundation’s Artist programme. They are delighted to tour their signature recital programme Reflection in the UK and Switzerland in spring 2025.