A recital celebrating Bedford Park’s 150th anniversary

Some of the UK’s brightest compositional voices and unexpected gems from late Victorian and Edwardian eras in songs pairing vibrant texts with kaleidoscopic music, some of which has been written especially for this acclaimed duo. This recital features a special Bedford Park 150th anniversary performance of W B Yeats’ The Lake Isle of Innisfree, in a setting by Muriel Herbert, and Down by the Salley Gardens, in a setting by Rebecca Clarke, both texts written while Yeats was living in Bedford Park as a young man. These are performed alongside music from Harriet and Ian’s forthcoming album, compelling stories for voice and piano about ‘falling’ - falling rain, falling in love, falling from power, and even falling ill. As well as folk songs, lighter favourites (including Flanders and Swann’s The Whale), and fantastical tales, the programme also offers the chance for both performers to perform individually, with Judith Weir’s one-woman multi-character opera saga, King Harald’s Saga, at its pinnacle!

Programme

Percy Grainger (arr): Sprig of Thyme 

Judith Weir: King of France solo piano; King Harald’s Saga solo voice

Cheryl Frances-Hoad: Star falling solo piano 

Christopher Churcher: There will come soft rains (Skysongs) 

Cheryl Frances-Hoad: Shipwreck Gossip (Six Songs of Melmoth)

James MacMillan: Ballad (Three Soutar Settings) 

Peter Maxwell Davies: Farewell to Stromness solo piano

INTERVAL

Jack Redman: Bright sunlight

Derri Joseph Lewis: Three Secret Songs

Maude Valérie White: The Throstle

Muriel Herbert: The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Rebecca Clarke: Down by the Salley Gardens

Roger Quilter (arr): Ye banks and braes 

Muriel Herbert: Renouncement 

Donald Swann: A red, red rose 

Michael Flanders and Donald Swann: The Whale 

Harriet Burns is in demand for her “polished, witty, expressive and sweet toned” (The Times) singing both in recital and on stage. An acclaimed interpreter of song, Harriet has performed at Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Oxford International Song Festival, Leeds Lieder Festival, International Lied Festival Zeist, Ryedale Festival and de Singel. Harriet is a laureate of numerous international competitions including the Compulsory Song Prize and Recital Prize at the International Vocal Competition in 's-Hertogenbosch and 1st prize at the Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards at the Wigmore Hall. She is proud to be a City Music Foundation Artist, Samling Institute Artist, and a Britten-Pears Young Artist.

“A wonderfully responsive and assured pianist” (The Telegraph), pianist Ian Tindale is in demand as a specialist in song repertoire and chamber music. His recital partners have included leading song performers Ailish Tynan, Helen Charlston, Roderick Williams, Robin Tritschler, Nick Pritchard and his regular duo-partner Harriet Burns. Ian has held roles as Official Pianist at the Wigmore Hall/Bollinger Song Competition, London, Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and at the International Vocal Competition in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Competition successes include the Pianist’s Prize in the Wigmore Hall/Kohn Foundation Song Competition and accompaniment prizes at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards. He is a Britten Pears Young Artist and a Samling Artist.

Harriet and Ian released an album of Schubert Lieder Love's Lasting Power to critical acclaim with Delphian Records in January 2024. Their next album with Delphian A short story of falling will be released later this year.

“There’s little doubt of the strength of the partnership or the excellence of their music-making” (Gramophone). 

Doors open: 6.30pm

https://youtu.be/UZkxwK8FwcI?feature=shared 

For ticket sales with cash or cheque, please contact the Parish Office.