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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Who rides so late through the windy night?

An anguished father embraces a child who writhes in terror while the sinister Elf King taunts him with premonitions of death.

Classics on Stage Yellowknife (COSY) will share this dramatic story through the words of German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe tonight and Saturday at Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Indigenous Afro-Cuban artist and Goethe scholar Lili Bernard of Los Angeles created this painting, titled Goethe's Der Erlkonig. - image courtesy of Lili Bernard copyright 2007

Titled Der Erlkonig, or The Elf King, the song is part of Schubertiade, an evening of classical music celebrating the work of 19th century Austrian composer Franz Schubert.

Schubert set Goethe's Elf King to music for vocal solo and piano in 1815 in a style of music called a lied, also known as an art song.

Schubert composed various ranges of voice to represent different narrators in the poem.

A high pitch evokes the boy's fear while the pianist's frantic fingers create a sense of galloping hooves.

"You can hear the horse beats over and over and over again and Schubert makes it all creepy when the Elf King tries to tease the boy away from the father," explained pianist Joanna Russell.

Marilyn Morrison will sing Goethe's words while Russell plays Schubert's score.

The musicians will also present another of Schubert's art songs, titled Gretchen am Spinnrade, depicting a scene from Goethe's Faust in which Gretchen contemplates Faust's pact with the devil.

The piano pulses with the rhythm of a spinning wheel, gradually unravelling as the woman is distracted by bedeviling thoughts spinning in her head.

Narrator Lorne Gushue will host Schubertiade, leading the audience through the repertoire by providing colourful context between songs.

Schubertiade refers to the small private concerts held in the parlors of Viennese fans of Schubert's music during the composer's lifetime.

"Schubert was a bit like the Elton John of the day," said singer Susan Shantora.

The evening also features vocalists Shad Turner, Claire Singer and Susan Epp along with pianist Sharon Chynoweth, flutist Jackie Boersma, clarinetist Adrian Wright and Michelle Peltier on baritone.

Special guest pianist Roger Admiral, a music professor at the University of Alberta who tours internationally, will join the local musicians and vocalists on stage.

In addition to Schubert's music set to words by Goethe, Wilhelm Muller and other German poets, the evening includes a selection of the composer's piano solos and chamber music.

Schubertiade begins at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday.