‘Unveiling the Breath’ A Soprano’s Inner Journey

23 March 2024

In the Utzon Room

Classical Music

With their unmatched flair for lyricism and musicality, Ayşe Göknur Shanal and John Martin reveal the complex mind and soul of the woman, manifested in the achingly beautiful classical repertoire, written for the soprano voice. 

A powerful performance that will crush all artifice…

This performance will be a journey into the soul-stirring music written for the soprano voice. It will reveal the deep and vulnerable nature of a woman through the exquisite repertoire, where every note unveils  layers of emotion.

Shanal and Martin will present masterpieces by Puccini, Strauss, Duparc, Rachmaninov, Handel and more...

“Göknur ia soprano gifted with a voice ogreat beauty…she has the ability thold aaudience with both the intensity oher performance and her musicianship.” — Conductor Richard Bonynge AC, CBE, Commandeur De L'Ordre National Des Arts Et Des Lettres

Martin, a virtuoso for all seasons, can play anything – with his prodigious facility and versatility, hidden difficulties simply disappear.  — Gwen Bennett

Presented by Ayşe Göknur Shanal

Other information

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