A poster for the concert on Aug. 19. Images courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

What's most appropriate for this Qixi Festival?

For local music fans, an evening of Schubert's art songs performed by classical guitarist Pablo Márquez and Grammy-winning soprano María Cristina Kiehr might be the answer.

Franz Schubert, one of the Romantic era's masters, composed over 600 art songs that are regarded as the perfect blend of poetry, voice, and instruments. 

During his lifetime, many of these songs were accompanied by guitar in intimate salon settings. Unlike the grandeur of the piano, the guitar's warm, introspective timbre feels more romantic — almost like a lover's whisper at the ear.

Pablo Márquez.

To emulate and pay homage to that tradition, this Qixi Festival concert brings together two outstanding musicians.

As the first artist ever to record a guitar album for the legendary ECM label, Márquez is equally at home in the traditional music of his native Argentina and the classical repertoire for his instrument, from the Renaissance to the present day. 

For this special occasion, he will perform on a replica of a guitar from Schubert's era, whose tone is lighter and more transparent than that of its modern counterpart.

María Cristina Kiehr.

Kiehr, also from Argentina, is an authority on early music. She studied under René Jacobs, has collaborated with such legendary musicians as Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Jordi Savall, and became the first Baroque soprano to win a Grammy Award. Her clear, pure voice is adept at conveying emotional nuances through minute shifts in phrasing.

The carefully curated program features Schubert's art songs from various periods, singing of the thrill of love, the sorrow of parting, natural beauty, and reflections on life. 

In the first half, audiences will hear "Serenade" from “Swan Song” — a tender confession in hushed tones, alongside "The Stars" on unspoken longing, "Suleika II" yearning for a distant lover, and "The Linnet's Wooing," a lively melody that captures love's pure joy. 

In the second half, "To Sing on the Water" and "Harp Player I" blend natural scenery with contemplations on life.

Márquez will also perform solo pieces arranged by Mertz, including "In Praise of Tears" and "The Post."

This Chinese Valentine's Day, step into Schubert's poetic world, where the guitar and voice duo will enchant you with the stirring reverberations of love, nature, and life.

Tickets: 99–299 yuan; 520 yuan for two 299-yuan tickets

Time: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 19

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D