Tenor Takes AWinter Journey Coast-to-Coast

This is so cool! Tenor David Pisaro is walking across northern England on the classic Coast to Coast footpath right now, planning on ending his journey at Robin Hood’s Bay on about the 31st of January.

The catch is that he is performing Schubert’s “Die Winterreise” each night – sometimes to audiences as small as 3 people (in a farmhouse that had the only piano for miles around). He’s attempting to meld “method” acting with classical music by literally experiencing a long, cold winter’s journey and then singing his heart out about just such a madness-inducing trip nightly.

According to the route/concert location timeline, he has a couple more performances before he finishes up.

Darn – I had really hoped to hike in the area of Robin Hood’s Bay on our September trip, but we didn’t make it to that part of Yorkshire. Maybe next year.

A big end-of-grueling walk party is planned: “Festival of Desperation and Disappointment.”

This is so cool, I just can’t stand it.

Heh heh heh… I love the word “whilst.” I really think I like this fellow. I wonder if he’ll ever perform in the Chicago area? He’d be great at Ravinia…

I ran across this in the Chicago Tribune (free subscription), but didn’t link to that story because it goes to pay-to-view archive in only 7 days. However, this quote was amusing:

‘The goal, Pisaro says, “is to see whether method acting and classical music go together, and whether I can attract a new audience to music that can be seen as the preserve of overeducated buffoons.”‘

Fabulous! Admirable! I salute you, sir! I offer you my best wool socks in tribute! 😉

I also found mention of it at Ruby Street. Word does get around so…

Best of luck, David! Keep your feet and head dry. I hope people have been offering you cups of tea with lemon and honey. 😉