Schubert’s ‘Winter Journey’ stops over in federal capital

PNCA signs cultural cooperation agreement with Goethe-Institut

ISLAMABAD: The great ‘Winter Journey’ (Winterreise) by Franz Schubert stopped over at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in the federal capital on Thursday.

On the second leg of its three-part journey through the country, the classical music and contemporary dance performance of Austrian composer Schubert’s song cycle and Wilhelm Muller’s poetic tales of forbidden love — as interpreted by Andreas Heise's performance group left many in the audience teary-eyed.

Heise's interpretation of Winterreise is unique. Besides the usual combination of vocals signing Muller’s poems and a pianist playing Schubert’s melodies, Heise has added the visual and evocative element of contemporary dance.

The choreography helps create a dramaturgical triangle filled with passion and intensity which oozes off the stage and impacts an audience which may not be as well versed with Muller or Schubert’s work.

It created a truly special performance art which is not only seen and heard but has to be experienced – much like the emotions contained in Muller’s words and Schubert’s notes.

Agreement

The performance was significant in not only in how a major Austrian-German cultural show was being presented in Pakistan, but it also celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the PNCA and Goethe-Institut Karachi.

The agreement was signed ahead of the performance by PNCA Director-General Dr Fouzia Saeed and Goethe-Institut Director Stefan Winkler.

Under the agreement, the two cultural centres will collaborate on programmes of mutual interest and understanding to benefit both organizations in the fields of art, culture, cultural education, dissemination of related information including the transmission of knowledge and cultural development.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Saeed said that they want to collaborate with organizations which are supportive and helpful for the promotion of art and culture in Pakistan and abroad.

She hoped that the MoUs will pave the way for creating international cultural understanding and further enhancing the working relationship amongst similar cultural organizations.

To achieve common goals, she said that the Goethe-Institut will conduct artistic activities in the form of live musical performances, lectures, workshops, presentation and related cultural and educational activities for the promotion of international cultural understanding among the masses in Pakistan whereas PNCA will provide the venue, technical and professional help for holding such cultural activities in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2020.