Winter’s Journey (Winterreise) traces the poetic journey of one man from lost love into the mystifying, isolating cold of winter. In 1993, the visionary conductor-composer Hans Zender reimagined Franz Schubert’s 1827 song cycle for tenor and 24-member chamber orchestra, creating his own striking work, Schubert’s ‘Winterreise’. Joined by champion of contemporary work and art song, Neal Long, Kansas City Sinfonietta is thrilled to present this production as its first concert since the ambitious kickoff series of four performances in one week last August. With the support of Just Off Broadway Theatre and typical KCietta enhancements of immersive sound design, lighting, and projection, this performance, led by KCietta Artistic Director Nicholas Perry Clark, this performance offers a whimsical, wintry journey you won’t want to miss.

Works
Hans Zender: Schubert’s ‘Winterreise’

Featuring
Neal Long, tenor

Neal Long enjoys a vibrant career as a singer, pianist, educator, and arts administrator. As a tenor, Neal has been described as "powerful and commanding," “totally at ease,” "sonorous," and "spectacularly clear-voiced." His expansive operatic repertoire includes Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Bénédict in Béatrice et Bénédict, Laurie in Little Women, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A new music champion and enthusiast, Neal has premiered works by many composers. Recently, Neal music directed Stacy Busch’s She Breathes Fire and co-composed and performed in Collective: Our Stories of Cancer with Owen/Cox Dance Group. He serves as the Director of Learning at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, carrying out the organization’s mission of education and community engagement.