Seatavern

The Songmakers’ Guild is delighted to launch our 2025 concert series by welcoming French mezzo-soprano Natalie Pérez and German guitarist Anne Haasch. The duo embarks on a captivating musical journey from Spain to North America in their program “Songs of Wandering”. This journey highlights Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco; one of Europe’s most important Jewish composers. In 1938 he was forced to leave Italy with his family and went into exile in the USA. There he became one of the most important film music composers of the 20th century. His Sephardic roots, dating back to the 15th century in Granada, Spain, played a critical role in his compositions. His last complete work, the song cycle “The Divan of Moses Ibn-Ezra” is an examination of exile and the suffering he endured, but explores life, friendship, and love for Spain.Our concerts begin at 19h00 with complimentary wine served at 18h30.

About the PerformersFrench mezzo-soprano Natalie Pérez trained at the Guildhall School and participated in prestigious programs, including Opera Fuoco’s academy, Les Arts Florissants’ Jardin des Voix, and the Mozart Academy at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. A 2019 Marmande Competition winner, she debuted at Wigmore Hall under the guidance of Dame Felicity Lott. Highlights of her career include a Lied recital at Barcelona’s Palau de la Música Catalana, her role as Venus in Vendado es amor (recorded for Spanish TV), and performances in Orfeo, Seven Deadly Sins, and Poppea. Her recordings feature collaborations with I Gemelli, Los Elementos, and contributions to Warner Classics’ Beethoven box set.

German guitarist Anne Haasch is based in Weimar, where she thrives as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. She studied classical guitar with Thomas Müller-Pering at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, with additional inspiration from Björn Colell, Olaf Van Gonnissen, and Hopkinson Smith. A winner of the “Ostracized Music” Interpretation Competition in Schwerin, Haasch explores works by Jewish and ostracized composers, including Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Gerhard, and Milhaud. She performs extensively, both solo and with clarinetist Jan Doormann as Duo Arvoredo. A dedicated educator, Haasch teaches at the Universities of Music in Weimar, Leipzig, and Cologne. Her acclaimed 2019 debut album features works by Antonio José, Milhaud, Poulenc, Gerhard, and Takemitsu.

Join us in welcoming this esteemed duo in a truly enthralling program.