The singing voice is the elemental musical instrument, conveying our innermost thoughts and feelings and capturing the stories of our world. This recital of songs, all of which in some way reflect on the importance of music to a society restricted through lockdown to electronically mediated communication, brought the beauty and eloquence of the singing voice to us in the unique setting of the UKARIA concert hall.

Bethany Hill

The name UKARIA combines the initials of its founder, Ulrike Klein, with the word ‘aria’, so it was fitting that this post-lockdown performance involved the voice. The intimate UKARIA concert hall’s excellent acoustics are perfect for small to medium ensembles and solo performers; the hall is ideal for a vocalist and creates a sense of community amongst the audience.

Initially devised by renowned Adelaide soprano Bethany Hill and pianist Penelope Cashman as a response to lockdown and for online presentation, their recital, entitled To Music, was inspired by Franz Schubert’s setting of Franz von Schober’s text An die Musik, which speaks of how music can lift one’s spirits during the darkest times. Hill and Cashman’s program encompassed works from the 17th century to the present...