Alice Coote mezzo-soprano
Julius Drake piano

The period of Classical Music was approximately between 1750 and 1820, so why are we still in the habit of using this incorrect, unhelpful and limiting label? 

Rebellious but hopefully relaxing too, this recital by Alice Coote and pianist Julius Drake takes joy in questioning what makes music ‘classic’? And how – despite genre stereotypes – all great music has something equally revealing to say… 

Kitty Whately mezzo–soprano
Natalie Burch piano

with HARRY SOUTER + ZOE CURE

Herbie Hopkins is a songwriter from Leeds.

Renowned improviser and drummer, Mark Sanders, described his work as ‘adventurous and daring’.

His new album, ‘Alex’, is about anatomy, nocturnal landscapes, and personal catharsis.Recorded by Chris Sharkey (engineer), accompanied by Matthew Bourne (piano) and Harry Souter (guitar, percussion); ‘Alex’ combines vivid songwriting, haunting improvisation, and raw found-sound-samples.

Louise Alder soprano
Joseph Middleton piano

“This superb young lyric soprano’s voice only grows in breadth and beauty… Alder is an instinctive singing-actress – a natural recitalist.” (The Arts Desk)

“Middleton: the rightful heir to legendary accompanist Gerald Moore.” (Opera Magazine)

Freddie Ballentine tenor
Kunal Lahiry piano

Please note this is a standing event.
Doors and bar open from 7pm. Music starts at 8pm.

“… what do you get if you speed-date composers from northern colleges with local poets? The answer is ‘A Leeds Songbook’, an inspiring portrait of the city and its inhabitants across the centuries. The atmosphere was relaxed but the buzz was electric…” (Clive Paget, ‘The Guardian’, June 2023).

The Erda Ensemble

Marta Fontanals-Simmons mezzo-soprano
Chloë Vincent flute
Olivia Jageurs harp

Roderick Williams OBE baritone
Andrew West piano

Following on from the exoticism heard in today’s lunchtime concert and subsequently explored in our afternoon study event, tonight’s recital culminates in a heady mix of well-known, and hidden gems brought together under the banner “A touch of exotic”. Schubert and Wolf rub shoulders with Sally Beamish, a past featured composer at Leeds Lieder. Roderick Williams and Andrew West have a special rapport and way of introducing song to audiences and this promises to be a highlight of the festival.

Russian American Soprano, Erika Baikoff, a recent graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Programme, is amassing a loyal following at major musical centres across the globe, including at Houston Grand Opera, Bayerisches Staatsopera and in recitals at the Alice Tully Hall New York, Wigmore Hall and at Schubertiade Schwarzenberg.

Alongside her duo partner Camille Lemonnier, she will demonstrate the interesting threads that can be drawn between jewels by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. 

Florian Boesch bass-baritone
Joseph Middleton piano

Joining Leeds Lieder Director, Joseph Middleton, Florian Boesch makes a welcome return to the Festival to perform the cycle that he has very much made his own. Reviewing recent performances, the Guardian described Boesch as ‘unquestionably superb’, Gramophone Magazine commenting that he is ‘inspired and quite unforgettable…remarkable and always affecting.’