Expanded and developed under the artistic directorship of pianist Iain Burnside, Ludlow English Song Weekend is to become an annual event, . A unique mini-festival that takes place from Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21, it celebrates a distinctive repertoire, focusing on British vocal music both well loved and less familiar.

Originally a triennial event set up by the Finzi Friends to promote the music of Gerald Finzi, the weekend will now reflect the full extent of English song repertoire, combining mid-20th century songs with both contemporary and earlier repertoire by composers such as Frederic Cowen, Hamilton Harty and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Composers from our own time, including Thomas Adès, Paul Mealor, Julian Phillips and Stephen Hough, will also feature.

The 2017 Ludlow English Song Weekend has a transatlantic flavour, looking at musical connections between Britain and America. Its centrepiece is a celebration of the American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892) in St Laurence’s Church on the evening of Saturday, May 20. Whitman settings by Vaughan Williams, Gurney, Weill and Bridge are interspersed with works by Mark-Anthony Turnage, Philip Lancaster and Martin Bussey. Alex Jennings, who plays The Duke of Windsor in The Crown, reads Whitman poems, letters and prose.

Earlier the same day a recital of British composers setting American poetry features a new commission by Tarik O’Regan, British-born but now living in New York. Hold This City all Night is a collaboration with American poet, librettist and Anglican priest Alice Goodman.

The Weekend showcases the cream of young UK singers. Kitty Whately premieres O’Regan's work, joined across the Weekend by Soraya Mafi, Robin Tritschler, Nicky Spence, Ashley Riches, and Gareth Brynmor John. Roderick Williams gives the opening recital with Iain Burnside, featuring songs by Arthur Somervell, Richard Rodney Bennett and Gerald Finzi. Shropshire-born mezzo Bethan Langford makes her Weekend debut on Sunday, May 22 in a free family concert directed by Gemma King, and in the closing recital with Iain Burnside.

The full programme of events is available on the festival website at ludlowenglishsongweekend.com. To book tickets, call the Ludlow Assembly Rooms box office on 01584 878141.