The Endler Concert Series is proud to host South African tenor, Thomas Erlank and pianist Pieter Grobler in an evening of Artsong.

Thomas Erlank graduated from Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Minette du Toit-Pearce and moved to London where he completed a Post-graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance, a Master’s degree, and a Post Master’s Diploma in Opera Performance at the Royal College of Music. He is currently a member of  the ensemble at Opernhaus Zürich since 2020 after completing two years as a member of the International Opera studio.

Pieter Grobler is a Senior Lecturer in Piano at Stellenbosch University. Grobler completed his postgraduate studies with Joseph Banowetz at the University of North Texas in the USA, where he obtained the MM and DMA piano performance degrees. He maintains an active performance career  and has performed across South Africa as well as the USA, Canada, China and Europe.  In addition to solo work he has a keen interest in chamber music, and collaborating in Lied performance.

The concert will take place online from Tuesday 24 August until 31 August

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

PROGRAMME

Schumann (1810-1856): Liederkreis Opus 24 (text translations: https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/134)

1. Morgens steh’ ich auf
2. Es treibt mich hin
3. Ich wandelte unter den Bäumen
4. Lieb’ Liebchen, leg’s Händchen
5. Schöne Wiege meiner Leiden
6. Warte, warte, wilder Schiffmann
7. Berg’ und Burgen schau’n herunter
8. Anfangs wollt’ ich fast verzagen
9. Mit Myrten und Rosen

Schumann (1810-1856): Dichterliebe Opus 48 (text translations: https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/144)

1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
2. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen
3. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
4. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’
5. Ich will meine Seele tauchen
6. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
7. Ich grolle nicht
8. Und wüssten’s die Blumen
9. Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
10. Hör’ ich as Liedchen klingen
11. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen
12. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
13. Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet
14. Allnächtlich im Traume
15. Aus alten Märchen
16. Die alten bösen Lieder

BIOS

South African tenor THOMAS ERLANK is a member of the ensemble at Opernhaus Zürich since 2020 after completing two years as a member of the International Opera studio. Thomas already appeared as Conferencier in Last Call, a new commision by Michael Pelzel, in the Wiederaufnahmen of Andreas Homoki’s production of Fidelio and Tatjana Gürbaca’s productions of Die Zauberföte and Rigoletto. ​During the season 2018/2019 Thomas made his house debut with the premiere of Christian Spuck’s ballet production of Hans Zender’s composed interpretation of the Winterreise. Further productions during his time at the studio include Sebastian Baumgartner’s Belshazzar and Il Barbiere di Siviglia directed by Johannes Pölzgutter. Due to the Covid pandemic many of the planned roles for his first season as a member of the Zürich opera ensemble could not be perfromed. These include Arbace in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Aminta in Pergolesi’s L’Olimpiade, Winterreise by Hans Zender, and Toby Higgins in Weill’s Mahagony. On the concert stage Thomas has performed works by Bach, Händel, Haydn, Saint-Saens, Mozart, Schubert, and vd Merwe. ​After some years of studying at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, Thomas moved to London where he completed a post-graduate diploma in vocal performance, a master’s degree, and a post master’s diploma in opera performance at the Royal College of Music. Thomas remains a member of the ensemble at Opernhaus Zürich with planned roles such as Le Chevalier de la Force in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites, Stimme des Seemanns in Tristan und Isolde, Aminta in Pergolesi’s L’olimpiade, and Lucano in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea.

PIETER GROBLER is a Senior Lecturer in Piano at Stellenbosch University. In addition to lecturing piano performance, chamber music, accompaniment and repertoire studies he is currently the coordinator for chamber music studies. He was previously the head of practical music studies (2012-17) and department head (2017-19). Postgraduate supervision has centred around repertoire and pedagogy studies. He is closely involved in organising the Hennie Joubert Piano Competition held biannually in Stellenbosch during the Stellenbosch International Piano Symposium (of which he is on the organising committee). He has performed yearly as faculty member in the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival since 2011. Grobler completed his postgraduate studies with Joseph Banowetz at the University of North Texas in the USA, where he obtained the MM and DMA piano performance degrees. Undergraduate studies were with Joseph Stanford at the University of Pretoria obtaining the BMus and BMusHons degrees in piano performance, as well as the UNISA Teacher’s Licentiate in Piano, cum laude. His training was further enriched through studies with Polish pianist, Adam Wodnicki, and master classes from a list of artists, of which the most beneficial lessons were from Andrzej Jasinski, Pascal Rogé Leonard Hokanson, and Niel Immelman. In addition to his activities as soloist, his interest in Art Song led to work with Dr. Elvia Puccinelli and Harold Heiberg at the University of North Texas. Since his return to South Africa in 2010, he established himself as a pedagogue and maintained an active concert profile, also performing abroad regularly. His performing interests include solo as well as collaborative work. Grobler has performed across South Africa in most all important concert venues. He is heard regularly on Classic-FM radio especially in Johannesburg. Pieter Grobler regularly acts as adjudicator and examiner throughout South Africa.