Music / “Die schöne Müllerin”, Songmakers Australia. At Wesley Music Centre, September 3. Reviewed by ROB KENNEDY.

VIBRANT vocal ensemble Songmakers Australia presented a program that featured Franz Schubert’s song cycle “The Fair Maid of the Mill”, based on 20 poems by Wilhelm Müller.

Songmakers Australia is celebrating their 10th anniversary of providing opportunities for singers to perform Art Song around Australia while educating and stimulating audiences through the joy of the human voice.

The performers were Brenton Spiteri, tenor, and on piano Andrea Katz.

The first of the 20 songs in this cycle began with “Wandering”. Its jolly, upbeat nature brought a compelling and bright start to this recital. Spiteri’s clear, powerful singing tones made each lyric stand out vividly. His portrayal of the emotions in the music and lyrics was mirrored with great sensitivity.

The first three works followed a unifying motif. All were strong, quick and compelling songs that expressed a distinct happiness through a joyful feeling that reflected the beauty of the natural world.

“Thanksgiving to the Brook”, with its flowing melancholy character, balanced the fast-paced prior pieces with a lovely symmetry.

Katz on piano was forthright, animated, and reacted perfectly in sync with the music. Her expressive style brought out the inner beauty of Schubert’s compositions. Every note clear and placed with great sensitivity and insight.

Some of the pieces were boisterous, loud, profound and penetrating. Both the singer and pianist became fittingly animated and forceful in these pieces. At times Spiteri’s volume was staggering, but always as it should have been. Music like this lifts the emotions, the heart rate and grabs attention. Then, as always, a soft and gentle song followed. The subtleness of a mellow piano and a soft, lilting voice singing an ethereal Schubert song can make one melt.

The pair seemed to have a special connection. Neither needed to constantly look at one another; their unspoken bond was all through the power of music.

Schubert’s “Die schöne Müllerin” song cycle is a vast work. Many of the songs would be at home in a rowdy pub. His strong compositional skills can be heard in each work. Considering Schubert’s short life and his sickness towards the end, this cycle stands as a profound musical statement by any composer, and of any period.

The concert ended with “The Brook’s Lullaby”. This weighty musical journey expressed a wide range of colours through many melodious songs, voiced in almost every emotion.

After a concert like this, there’s no need for an encore, because in this song cycle, and in this type of performance, everything has been expressed.