Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact
Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact

Camilla Tilling

by Heather Leviston 12th April, 2016
by Heather Leviston 12th April, 2016

An artist who definitely deserves the title of Great Performer, Swedish soprano Camilla Tilling made a most welcome return to Melbourne Recital Centre’s Elisabeth Murdoch Hall – a venue that might have been purpose built for her voice, with repertoire designed to display her artistry.

The appealing program, which included one of the most popular song cycles written for the female voice, was an additional drawcard. Schumann’s Frauenliebe und –leben (Woman’s Life and Love) is on every Lieder singer’s bucket list of must-sings. As part of the Local Heroes series the MRC Salon alone has fairly recently hosted interpretations by Siobhan Stagg and Merlyn Quaife, both wonderful in different ways. The final song of the cycle was given a particularly memorable reading by long-term collaborators Quaife and Andrea Katz.

This cornerstone of Lieder repertoire remains a perennial favourite of audiences even nowadays when, hopefully, a woman’s role is viewed very differently. Tim Munro’s program note includes a quote from Schumann’s 1838 letter to his future wife, Clara Wieck. It shocks with its chauvinistic expectations when he writes, “The first year of our marriage you shall forget the artist, you shall live only for yourself and your house and your husband.”

It was, however, easy to forget the narrowing of a woman’s universe as reflected in Adalbert von Chamisso’s poems and be swept along by Tilling’s account of a woman’s journey through love’s joyous moments of anticipation and fulfillment to those of loss and desolation. A slender figure in a blue sheath, Tilling encompassed the wide range of emotion with an impressive command of colour, legato and unforced beauty of tone. With Leigh Harrold as her attentive and assured accompanist, a compelling portrait was created: youthful infatuation; self-sacrificing adoration; an excited I-can’t-believe-he-loves-me outburst; a warm meditation on the ring with more passionate altruism; and the excited bustle of wedding preparation. A highlight of the cycle was Tilling’s languid disclosure of pregnancy in Süßer Freund; it was marked by marvelous purity of tone from the opening phrase and deeply expressive shifts of rhythmic pulse. The heady rapture of motherhood was followed immediately by stark, hollow tones of desolate grief at the death of the beloved, which resolved into an extended piano postlude of contemplation and acceptance – or, as Katz called it in her pre-concert talk, the missing ninth poem.

The less familiar Sieben frühe Lieder (Seven Early Songs) by Alban Berg is not strictly a cycle but rather his selection of songs sharing a preoccupation with the night from the 30 written during his studies with Schoenberg around 1905. Tilling’s artistry was even more apparent in these songs. Her ability to float the tone with the most exquisite delicacy contrasted with climaxes where her voice soared in a bloom of creamy, opulent tone. In Die Nachtigall you could hear the sweetness of the nightingale’s call and the roses bloom in expansive glory. It would seem we have another “Swedish nightingale” – a worthy successor to the celebrated Jenny Lind. Traumgekrönt (Crowned in dream) was finally crowned with a melting pianissimo on “Eklang die Nacht”/“the night resounded” and Im Zimmer (Indoors) shone with sunlight. The final words of Liebesode (Ode to Love): ‘Träume des Rausches – so reich an Sehnsuch!”/“Dreams of intoxication, rich with yearning” were delivered with such ravishing tone that it would be difficult to find a more perfect use of vocal colour to reflect meaning.

Back on the more familiar territory of Hector Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été (Summer Nights) – another collection of songs rather than a song cycle per se, Tilling continued to show how it’s done. Again, superlative breath control enabled her to stretch out long phrases of rapturous beauty. Although written for baritone, Sur les lagunes was an emotional tour de force as Tilling summoned up the dark hues required for this lament with Leigh Harrold in perfect accord. When she asked “Ou voulez- vous aller?” in those last phrases of L’île inconnu, it seemed that the audience would have been willing to go anywhere with her. The rapt attention of her listeners said it all; there was none of the usual distracting rustlings, beeps or coughing choruses to distract. We had been given a magical ride into the hearts of three inspired composers.

Those poor souls who missed out on attending this recital can at least hear it on ABC Classic FM later this month, but they will not have the pleasure of witnessing the personal charm that is part of the Tilling allure. Hopefully, all of these works will be made available on disc as a permanent record of the refined musicality and superb vocal command that she brings to them.

Camilla Tilling appeared as part of the Great Performers Concert Series 2016 at the Melbourne Recital Centre on April 8.

0
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Heather Leviston

Heather Leviston has devoted much of her life to listening to classical music and attending concerts. An addiction to vocal and string music has led her to undertake extensive training in singing and perform as a member of the Victoria State Opera chorus and as a soloist with various musical organisations.

As a founding academic teacher of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, she has had the privilege of witnessing the progress of many talented students, keenly following their careers by attending their performances both in Australia and overseas.

As a reviewer, initially for artsHub, and also for Sounds like Sydney, she has been keen to bring attention to the fine music-making that is on offer in Australia, especially in the form of live performance. Heather is a valued member of Classical Melbourne’s editorial team, with her reviews of opera and vocal music valued by performers and audiences alike.

previous post
Lyric Opera: Pygmalion
next post
Gloriana: Passion and Resurrection

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • August 2022

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

2 events, 1

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

August 1 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

Program Franz Schubert Schwanengesang D 957 Songmakers Australia Schubert’s last song cycle was published after his untimely death at the age of…

Free
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

August 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

A performance of cherished works and Gallic beauty. About the artists Seraphim Trio is as much a lifelong friendship as a…

$40 – $50

0 events, 2

1 event, 3

11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

August 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

Riveting passion balanced with delicate lyricism. About the artists Scottish born James Crabb is widely regarded as one of the world’s…

$42 – $49

0 events, 4

0 events, 5

1 event, 6

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

August 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

World-renowned violinist Ray Chen makes his long-awaited return to Australia with some of the most demanding, impressive, and emotionally riveting works…

$65.55 – $159

2 events, 7

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

August 7 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

Join Flinders Quartet for the sumptuous romanticism and grandeur of Brahms, and the ingenuity and wit of Haydn. Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba -…

$29 – $38
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

August 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

Corpus Medicorum Rebirth 2022 Concert Series. Artists Charlotte Miles cellist Keith Crellin OAM conductor Program Edward Elgar Cello Concerto, Op.85 Antonín Dvořák Symphony No.7…

$10 – $60

1 event, 8

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

August 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

A journey to the corners of human experience with Schubert’s Schwanengesang. About the artists Stewart Kelly is one of Australia’s most sought-after…

$40 – $50

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

0 events, 11

0 events, 12

0 events, 13

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

0 events, 18

0 events, 19

1 event, 20

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

"Real and Right and True" - a celebration of the art song tradition of Australia and the United Kingdom. Lotte Betts-Dean,…

$10 – $35

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

0 events, 24

0 events, 25

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

0 events, 4

August 1
August 1 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

August 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

  • There are no events on this day.
August 3
August 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 6
August 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

August 7
August 7 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

August 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

August 8
August 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

August 20
August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 20
August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
View Calendar

Classic Melbourne’s reviews policy

audio
Our point of differenceby Editor Suzanne Yanko

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Follow us on Facebook

Classic Melbourne

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Introducing Classic Melbourne

audio
Speech at launch by Conductor Andrew Wailes

Your browser does not support the audio element.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

@2019 - All Right Reserved.

Read alsox

MYO: The Gadfly

29th March, 2017

L’Arpeggiata: Music for a while

18th March, 2017

Mozart & Handel Concertos

9th October, 2012