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 | Lancashire Times A Voice of the Free Press |
1:00 AM 13th November 2024
arts
Leeds Lieder Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Boldest Programme To Date
'Song, the Secret of Eternity' Saturday 5 April – Saturday 12 April 2025
Joseph-Middleton
Photo:©Richard Cannon
2025 is the 20th Anniversary of the first Leeds Lieder Festival, and I wonder whether those intrepid initiators of the first concerts would have dared dream that 20 years on, Leeds would host such a joyous week of music-making.
Our boldest and most colourful programme to date reflects the enduring appeal of song and its power to connect us across time and culture. With a line-up of performers who really have something to say, and innovative programmes, this Festival celebrates life, song, and its ability to explain some of the most profound aspects of the human condition.
Song, the Secret of Eternity
This year’s Festival title comes from the final song Egyptian soprano Fatma Said will sing in her eclectic programme - words by Khalil Gibran and music by Lebanese polymath Najib Hankash. The opening stanza reads:
For song is the secret of eternity,
And the sound of the flute remains
Beyond the end of existence.
So much of the Festival is concerned with timelessness, from the ethereal wonder of Fauré’s Requiem led by Gareth Malone to the ‘touch of exotic’ day that features beloved regular Roderick Williams in recital. Each event invites audiences to experience the beauty of music that transcends boundaries, echoing through time and connecting us all in the shared language of song.”
The World’s Finest Singers
The 2025 Festival features some of the finest singers performing today. Two monumental Schubert song cycles open and close the Festival, performed by two of the greatest exponents of the art form. Baritone Florian Boesch opens the week with Winterreise, while the legendary tenor Christoph Prégardien concludes with Die schöne Müllerin. Throughout the Festival, audiences will be treated to recitals by the finest British vocalists such as Alice Coote, Kitty Whately, Louise Alder, and Roderick Williams.
World Premiere Performances
A significant highlight of the April Festival is the world premiere of new works by celebrated composer Helen Grime, commissioned by the Festival and performed by superb lyric soprano Louise Alder alongside Joseph Middleton. Grime’s compositions are known for their luminous textures and introspective depth, making her an ideal voice to explore the Festival’s theme of timelessness.
Lieder Lounger
Leeds Lieder Festival remains committed to fostering young talent, with masterclasses led by iconic artists, including Festival President Elly Ameling, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Felicity Lott, Amanda Roocroft, Julius Drake and Anna Tilbrook. A series of specially curated concerts will also highlight the next generation of musicians, including a Young Artist Showcase, Study Event based on Goethe, and a Late Night Lieder event, presenting the future of song in a relaxed and intimate setting.
Bring and Sing! Concert Vivaldi Gloria
True to its mission of making song accessible to all, the Festival offers several interactive events for the wider community, including a ‘Bring and Sing’ led by Gareth Malone, schools concerts designed to share the transformative power of Art Song with primary and secondary school children, and a relaxed performance by mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately and Natalie Burch.
The much-acclaimed Leeds Songbook Project, described by the Guardian as ‘electric’ also returns this season, offering a living portrait of the city’s artistic landscape. The project marries stories about the people of Leeds, told in poems by the people of Leeds, set to music by composers invited to Leeds, and finally, performed by Leeds Lieder Young Artists. The showcase event connects Leeds communities and creates a lasting snapshot of songwriting for future generations to enjoy.
Innovative Programming in Unique Settings
The Festival continues to take song beyond the confines of the concert hall this season with a series of performances in surprising settings. Highlights include the Erda Ensemble’s homage to women in music and brewing at North Brewing, and Freddie Ballentine and Kunal Lahiry’s powerful programme in The Attic, a passion product born out of the strife of the Black Lives Matter movement. Ballentine and Lahiry celebrate uniqueness and honour those who fought and came before. Finally, Alice Coote and Julius Drake challenge the very notion of the traditional song recital programme in their ‘Rebellious Recital’. As Coote writes, “Despite genre stereotypes - all great music has something equally revealing to say.”
Insightful Talks and Lectures
The Festival’s pre-concert talks and lectures, led by renowned figures such as Graham Johnson OBE and Richard Stokes, will offer insights into the foundations of the repertoire.
Live Streaming for Global Audiences
Every performance in the Festival will be live-streamed or recorded, allowing audiences worldwide to experience Leeds Lieder’s exceptional programme, creating a genuinely global community united by song.
Each year, I am moved by the generosity of our supporters who make our vision possible. Thanks to their commitment, we can present a programme that celebrates the power of song and connects with audiences on a profound level. Whether you’re a Festival regular, attending for the first time, or watching online, we warmly invite you to join us for a week of music-making.