Italian & French Art Song of the Belle Époque

Clara & Jan Hugo

Italian & French Art Song of the Belle Époque

In this programme, which opens the 2025 Season of the Welgemeend Concert Series, the singer & pianist couple Clara & Jan Hugo explore lesser-known repertoire of Italian art song of the early 20^th century. During this period the Italian musical landscape was drawn in two directions, first towards Wagner and the German tradition, and then towards French culture. These foreign influences fused with the Italian gift for melody, creating fascinating masterpieces that echo Wagner, Ravel, Debussy and yet are uniquely Italian.

After formative years living, studying and working in Italy, Germany and France, the Hugo's have recently settled in Cape Town, where their refined skills as performers, vocal coaches and teachers have been in high demand from the very onset. As a case in point, it would be hard to find a duo better equipped for the interpretation of a Belle Époque program: Besides being experienced performers both are also scholars, with recently completed master’s degrees – Clara from the Sorbonne in Paris on bel canto singing and Jan from the Conservatory in Milan specialising in Art Song.

The concert starts at 19h00, but doors open at 18h00 already when patrons are invited to enjoy the memorably hospitable Welgemeend atmosphere with soup, bread & wine – all included in the ticket price.