Matthew Rose and Anna Tilbrook, Die Winterreise at Famington Farm, Barcheston, Sunday 7 April.

Franz Schubert’s masterpiece, his song cycle, Winterreise follows the wanderer across difficult terrain in winter months as a lost soul, struggling with his emotions but believing his fortunes will improve. A single theme of non-reciprocated love requires a deeply considered performance with a seriousness of purpose. The song cycle is most usually a favourite of tenor and baritone voices, however, bass, Matthew Rose is very capabable of delivering the intensity expected in the songs. One and a quarter hours of song, with astonishingly sympathetic accompaniment by Anna Tillbrook, marked a further significant moment in the musical history of Famington Farm, following last autumn’s memorable performance of Die schöne Müllerin.

From the Night Watchman in Die Meistersinger von Nürenberg, to Baron Ochs in Der Rosankavalier to Masetto in Don Giovanni, Matthew Rose’s fine bass voice has been in demand internationally.  There is every reason to believe future Wagnerian and similar roles requiring intense bass voice will be scheduled.  Having previously associated Winterreise with tenor or mezzo-soprano voices, there was some surprise by the volume of the bass delivery which added to the level of intensity of the performance. He possesses a remarkable instrument, his ability to make an authoritive showing could not be questioned. The raw energy is quite remarkable but at times, the subtlety between, for example, the descriptive element of The Linden Tree (5), and the reflective element On Looking Back (8), taken at a furious pace by Tillbrook, is disconcerting. At other times, Rose’s delivery is tingling with nervous energy, presenting a strong and heroic persona throughout. There were occasions when the voice shakes with anger and shudders through elements.  There is energy in his explosive articulation. Ultimately, at one hour fifteen minutes he meets The Hurdy-Gurdy Man (24) which reveberates hauntingly in Anna Tillbrook’s fingers.

A long, long pause before any hint of applause was most welcome at the end of a concert sung with admirable seriousness.  Barcheston Concerts diary for 2024 includes some very exciting concerts including harpsichord, cello and violin individual events.

Clive Peacock