Auburn professors visit Hodgson School for recital of works from Schubert’s last year

Matthew Hoch, associate professor of voice at Auburn University, will perform with Auburn colleague Jeremy Samolesky, associate professor of piano, in a guest artist recital at the UGA Performing Arts Center’s Ramsey Concert Hall on Friday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m.

The duo, hosted by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, will perform a special recital that examines Franz Schubert’s final year, 1828, and the work he created in that year.

“The featured work on the program is ‘Schwanengesang,’ a collection of fourteen songs published as Schubert’s final collection upon his death,” said Hoch. “Schubert’s Klavierstück No. 2 in E-flat major completes the program.”

The year 1828 is significant not just as Schubert’s last year, but for the amount and quality of work Schubert was producing at that time. Some scholars think Schubert may have actually been working on two new song cycles in the same year he wrote the works featured in Hoch and Samolesky’s program.

“Bringing the ‘Schwanengesang’ to perform for our first 2017-2018 vocal recital is perfect for students and audience alike,” said Stephanie Tingler, Hodgson School associate professor of voice. “Vocal students are familiar with a number of these pieces, ‘Ständchen,’ ‘Der Doppelgänger,’ and ‘Der Atlas.’ For the audience, they will recognize this later voice of Schubert: the intricacies of the harmonies, text painting and his mature approach to the voice.”

The performers for this recital are suited to these demanding works. Samolesky’s debut solo album was selected as the 2016-17 winner of The American Prize in Piano Performance and he has appeared as a soloist and chamber pianist throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

“Matt [Hoch] is well-known throughout the vocal community for his outstanding service to the National Association of Teachers of Singing here in Georgia and Alabama,” said Tingler. “He is the author of several books—one in particular, ‘A Dictionary for the Modern Singer,’ which I use quite often—and editor of the series ‘So You Want to Sing...’”

This performance is presented admission-free and is open to the public.

The UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music sponsors more than 350 performances each year. To view the performance calendar, subscribe to the weekly email concert listing, and learn more about the School of Music, go to music.uga.edu.