A twilight concert of nightingale songs performed by Soprano Isabel Hertaeg.

Wandering home from a summer night with friends, we cut through the parkland separating our suburb and the next. Laughing about the events of the evening, we suddenly stop. Listen! There it is! A Nightingale. A little, lonesome bird, awake while the other birds sleep, singing to itself to pass through the long night.

There is much mythology surrounding the nightingale – a little brown bird who sings at night in the forested areas of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The Nightingale captured the imagination of many poets, composers and artists. The Nightingale Affair will present a collection of classical songs featuring the call of the nightingale alongside projections of artwork, footage and soundscapes of the nightingale and some Australian nighttime birds.

This is an easy to tour, low-tech, show that can be presented beautifully in a range of spaces including small halls and large theatres. The Nightingale Affair can utilise a piano if available and can also provide a keyboard and PA. Lighting, audio and AV can all be operated by the one touring tech and bump-in/bump-out are quick and simple.

Venue Format
Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue
Technical Rating
D
Touring Party
3
Considerations

Romantic music contains adult themes.

Isabel Hertaeg's work has been described as ‘The Rarest of things... Theatre that mattered’ Arts Hub, ‘Radical, transgressive chic’ Guardian, UK. Isabel has worked in theatre, opera, independent film, community radio and television. She is also a freelance writer, published in New Matilda. ‘Gutsy and Likeable’ Cameron Woodhead – The Age.

Death By Soprano enjoyed sell-out seasons at various festivals and is delighted to be touring with the support of Regional Arts Victoria in 2016. Death by Soprano is created especially for 'non-opera' audiences. This is a passion of Hertaeg’s featuring through her work; most notably in Opera in the Air.

Isabel’s works have been listed as 'Adelaide Fringe Top 3 Shows' Adelaide Magazine, 'Best Bets of the Melbourne Fringe' The Age, 'A truly original, delightful, accomplished show' The Scotsman and 'Hot Pick' ABC Classic FM's Limelight Magazine.,‘Musical Genius’ Arts Hub; ‘Her Vocals, Out of this world... Hertaeg is amazing, as she projects a voice better than any I’ve heard this [Edinburgh] festival. I loved it.’ ScotsGay; ‘Isabel Hertaeg is a talented, charismatic lady with an impressive vocal range’ The Scotsman and ‘Her trained soprano shines when she tackles German Art Song’ The Mercury, Hobart. ‘An undeniably fine singer’ Tim Richards, The Age.

Company Website
deathbysoprano.com

Unique Selling Point

The Nightingale Affair offers audiences an opportunity to connect with sublimely beautiful music in an intimate setting. Hertaeg's work connects wider, non-traditional audiences to classical music through her connections to text, audience rapport and style. This ambient piece evokes a night-time journey of romance, intimacy, sadness and haunted tales of the night. Hertaeg's work opens minds, touches hearts and creates lasting memories for audiences and communities.

Demographics include: live music audiences, classical, world music and folk music audiences. children and families, music students, fine art and poetry lovers, music students, French, German and Russian speaking communities and language students.

Marketing Materials

Marketing Package Included: Generic press release, company bios, hi-res production and marketing images, poster and flyer templates, production video..

Possible Marketing at Additional Cost: A Publicist can be engaged at additional cost.

Community Engagement

A Nightingale Affair presents evocative music that is only occasionally performed, even in traditional classical settings. The music of the Nightingale Affair has the power to touch hearts and open minds and the beautiful projection work and sounds leave a lasting memory of a special experience in the theatre.

The songs, presented in English, French, German and Russian connect with multicultural facets of the community and their musical interpretations of birds. A Nightingale Affair also contains Australian compositions that connect to our unique landscape.

For music students, A Nightingale Affair provides an experience of Art Song and teaching materials including scores and composition notes are available.

Isabel offers pop-up, public performances which connect with local communities and also promote the show. She has 'popped-up' on local buildings, at local markets, in schools and even on top of grain silos.

Pop-up performances: markets, local buildings, schools, silos

Teaching notes for secondary music students including scores and composition notes

Community members with French, German and Russian origins, local language classes.

Workshops with local music students, community choirs.