On Sunday 23rd August at 3pm, Magpie Artsong will present A Battle of Dreams, featuring dreamscapes and ruminations through the songs of Mompou, Boulanger, Britten and Widmann, in the intimate and beautiful setting of Coriole Winery’s Top House, McLaren Vale, SA.
Magpie Artsong is the creation of tenor Kyle Stegall and pianist Penelope Cashman, both specialists in the performance of artsong. Their mission is to showcase artsong’s diversity and its power to evoke emotions, spark imagination, and inspire human connection.
Combat del Somni (Battle of Dreams), a song cycle by Federico Mompou, begins the program. Its exquisite blend of French impressionism and unique Catalan style continues in two of Mompou’s solo piano miniatures before the extraordinary final song from Lili Boulanger’s song cycle Clairières dans le ciel (Clearings in the Sky). The second half opens with Benjamin Britten’s revered song cycle Winter Words, setting the poetry of Thomas Hardy and exploring themes of childhood, loss of innocence, and the inevitable passing of time. The program concludes with the final song from Das Heiße Herz (The Burning Heart), a song cycle by renowned contemporary German composer Jörg Widmann whose work has been all too rarely performed in South Australia.
Tenor Kyle Stegall has been celebrated internationally for his captivating performances and depth of communication. His 2026 performances have included tenor soloist with the Queensland Ballet in staged performances of Verdi’s Requiem, soloist in the world premiere of Anne Cawrse’s The King Walks in the Orangerie with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and the role of Adam in Pinchgut Opera’s Il primo omicidio. Stegall was twice a Fellow in the Britten-Pears Programme at the Aldeburgh Music Festival, where he undertook intensive studies of Britten’s artsongs, repertoire which is central to this recital’s program.
Specialist collaborative pianist Penelope Cashman draws audiences into vivid worlds of song, the shared human experience of poets and composers across time and culture. Her performances have been compared to “a Turner painting… iridescent” (Glam Adelaide). She has performed with singers at the Haus der Musik (Vienna), the Ukaria Cultural Centre (SA), and the Holywell Music Room (Oxford). Penelope studied a masters in song accompaniment at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (Austria) and furthered her training at the Franz Schubert Institut, where she worked with the world’s leading song interpreters.
Concert goers are invited to make a day of it and arrive early for a leisurely lunch at Coriole’s renowned restaurant before immersing themselves in the music. With a glass of wine in hand, this recital is the perfect way to spend a winter afternoon.
Date: Sunday 23rd August 3pm
Location: The Top House at Coriole Winery, Chaffeys Road McLaren Vale, SA, 5171
Admission: Adults $50; Pensioners, Healthcare Card holders, Seniors $40; Companion Card $40; Full-time Students $35 (booking required)
Online booking at: https://www.trybooking.com/DMNXE
For more information visit www.magpieartsong.com
