In January, you auditioned for Friends of Song. What made auditioning appealing and made you decide to apply?
Jessica: ‘It was Anna who found the audition and she suggested we venture into the ring as a duo. After poking around, we both discovered the line-up of excellent musicians who already belonged to the Friends of the Song family. We wanted to be part of that family too!’
Anna: ‘As a song pianist, it is very important for me to share my love for the genre with audiences and fellow musicians and contribute to the continuation of the song tradition. Friends of the Song offers its musicians the opportunity to do exactly that, which is why I was eager to audition.’
At what point did you become fascinated by the art song?
Jessica: ‘I've always been fascinated by music, by singing - by all this. The intimate nature of art songs was something that really struck me when I started exploring them properly around the age of 19. As with most young singers, the first song cycle I rehearsed was Robert Schumann's Frauenliebe und -Leben. The simple and deeply intimate beginning of that cycle, with Seit ich ihn gesehen, hit me like a goods train when I first heard it with Elly Ameling and Rudolf Jansen. It has been one of my favourite works all my career.’
For you, what is the relationship between ‘prima la parole’ and ‘prima la musica’?
Anna: ‘I believe the beauty of the genre of song lies in the way music and lyrics “depend” on each other to reveal meanings, ideas and images that neither could fully express separately. In this sense, they complement each other and form a cohesive whole in which both elements are equally essential.’
As musicians, how do you deal with nervousness?
Jessica: ‘Bananas are an excellent source of natural beta blockers, and at least my favourite snack before a gig. I always feel a bit nervous before a gig, but always treat those “butterflies” like old, loyal friends. It's essential to have the adrenaline to perform, so that nervous energy is actually quite useful. I always make sure I'm hyper prepared for a gig - unless I'm filling in for someone, of course - which also relieves a lot of nerves for me.’
What do the last two hours before a recital/performance look like?
Jessica: ‘I make sure I eat something 30 minutes beforehand. It's important to have fuel during the performance. Do my make-up, hair, probably some kind of meditation and read through the music.’
After a recital, the audience goes home. What do you hope they take with them?
Jessica: ‘As with all stories and forms of entertainment, I hope the audience has been able to take their minds off things. I hope they leave mentally refreshed, and perhaps reflecting on the poetry or musical themes that have touched or moved them.’
Anna: ‘I hope the audience finds moments of inspiration and is genuinely moved by the music, the poetry or the way the two come together. And that each song offers something that personally resonates and lingers beyond the performance.’
What does Friends of the Song have to offer young musicians like you?
Jessica: ‘It is becoming increasingly difficult for emerging artists to find ways to build a steady audience in the real world, even though that is essential to what we do with our acoustic art form. Friends of Song offers young musicians a wonderful opportunity to build their profile, programmes and experience portfolio with an organisation that is genuinely interested and committed to the art of song. Anna and I are very happy to be part of the family.’
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