Sting Takes On The Role Of Romantic Composer
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Singer-songwriter Sting recently portrayed 19th-century German Romantic composer Robert Schumann in "Twin Spirits," presented by the Culture Project.
The play, which helped celebrate the 200th anniversary of Schumann's birth, is made up love letters between the composer, and his wife, Clara Schumann, who was also a composer. The two lovers' music accompanies their words.
Sting's wife, actress-producer Trudie Styler, portrays Clara Schumann.
George Whipple: Now, your wife is a classically-trained actress. How do you feel competing with her on the stage?
Sting: Well, if I'm competing with her, I've lost. Forget it! I'm just trying to hold my end up and get the words right and don't stutter. If I can do that, then it's a success.
Styler was proud of where she performed the project.
"It's a beautiful love story, it has amazing music and Clara Schumann was, I think, a little-known musician and composer but she's getting now lots of play. A lot of female composers and pianists are playing a lot of her stuff, so I'm thrilled about that," said Styler. "And we've done it about five times, mostly in England. Did it once at Windsor Castle, once at Salzburg Cathedral and the Royal Opera House."
Violinist Joshua Bell was part of the crew that performed the Schumanns' music.
"It's a very interesting way of hearing music in the context of the letters of Clara and Robert Schumann. It's a very touching story," said Bell.
Part of the proceeds when to Music Unites, which promotes music in New York City schools. Schooling is not unfamiliar to Sting, as he was once a teacher.
Whipple: You still consider yourself a teacher?"
Sting: Even when I was being paid as a teacher, I considered myself an entertainer, first and foremost. Entertain people and they'll learn anyway.
Not many people know, but during the American Revolution, the British soldiers who occupied New York cut down all of the city's trees and burned them for firewood. So perhaps Sting the Englishman is making reparations for his countrymen.