This week, Against the Grain Theatre gave a preview of their upcoming show, Death & Desire, in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Death & Desire combines two song cycles, Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin and Messaien’s Harawi. The two protagonists of each respective cycle are faced with each other in this “double-poeticism” by Artistic Director Joel Ivany. After the arresting musical preview, I was about to speak with singers Krisztina Szabó and Stephen Hegedus, as well as AtG Music Director and pianist, Topher Mokrzewski. I asked them about mashing up Schubert and Messaien, and what audiences can expect from this production.

Death & Desire plays June 2-5th at the Neubacher Shor Contemporary, 5 Brock Ave., Toronto. For details and tickets, follow the Box Office links below.