Luca Pisaroni will step in for Thomas Quasthoff in his joint recital with tenor Michael Schade at Alice Tully Hall in New Tork on March 25 and Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall on March 30. Pisaroni, who is currently appearing in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of The Enchanted Island, has previously performed alongside Schade on the opera stage.

Michael Schade will sing lieder by Mozart and Schumann while Pisaroni will present selections by Schubert and Brahms. The two will also perform duets by Mendelssohn, Schumann and others. Pianist Justus Zeyen will join the two singers.

Michael Schade extended the following comment:

“There are certain times in the life of a singer that uninvited and unexpected changes provide you with new golden opportunities. Thomas Quasthoff’s sudden, yet dignified and heroic retirement provides us all with the experience of witnessing the debut of this powerful and exciting young bass-baritone, Luca Pisaroni – who is already a star at the Met and in many of the great opera houses in Europe. I was on stage with him during his Salzburg Festival debut in 2006 when he came and made a huge impression on me and the audiences of the festival in Clemenza di Tito with Maestro Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

I have been keeping an eye on him ever since. Be it his Leporello at the Met or his own recital tours with the superb Justus Zeyen on the piano, Luca brings superb artistry mixed with his impressive stage presence to provide audiences with the opportunity to hear one of the world’s upcoming leading baritones. I am glad Luca followed my invitation to NY’s Alice Tully hall and the prestigious recital in Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall, and I am thankful for his willingness to replace my good friend Thomas Quasthoff on short notice.”

View Lincoln Center News Release

PROGRAMM

MENDELSSOHN duets: Ich wollt’ meine Lieb’; Abschiedslied der Zugvögel; Herbstlied; Lied aus Ruy Blas; Abendlied; Wasserfahrt
MOZART (Schade): Das Veilchen; An Chloe; Komm, liebe Zither; Abendempfindung
SCHUBERT (Pisaroni): Selections from Schwanengesang
SCHUMANN duets: Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär; Schön Blümelein; Herbstlied; Intermezzo; Blaue Augen hat das Mädchen
SCHUMANN (Schade): Mein schöner Stern; Dein Angesicht; Waldgespräch; Mondnacht
BRAHMS (Pisaroni): Alte Liebe; Sommerfäden; O kühler Wald; Verzagen; Unüberwindlich
arr. GREER: Wiener Lieder-Medley