Kitty Whately mezzo–soprano
Natalie Burch piano

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.’

Come and support the newly-formed Bring and Sing! Chorus, alongside the Leeds Lieder Young Artists, as they perform Fauré’s evocative Requiem, under the expert direction of television’s popular choirmaster, Gareth Malone.

Patricia Nolz mezzo-soprano
Joseph Middleton piano