The Ludlow English Song Weekend celebrates 20th and 21st century English song with a three day programme, running from Friday, April 6 to Sunday, April 8, offering a stimulating mix of words and music.
Artistic director Iain Burnside says: “This year Ireland meets English Song, with a mixture of music that’s familiar, off the beaten track and hot off the press. Our marvellous array of vocal and instrumental talent points to a dream weekend celebrating the music Ireland has inspired, including song-settings of great Irish writers and poets, performed by a host of superb Irish performers.
Singers include soprano Ailish Tynan, tenor Robin Tritschler, mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin, baritones Gavan Ring and Gareth Brynmor John, and a masterclass with the great Irish mezzo, Ann Murray and special appearances by Irish actors Fiona Shaw and Sorcha Cusack. Instrumentalists are flautist Adam Walker, oboist Nicholas Daniel and the Gildas String Quartet, while musicologist, Katy Hamilton chairs the weekends’ talks.
There will be song-settings of words by great Irish writers and poets like James Joyce and Yeats, arrangements of Irish folk songs, and a host of superb Irish performers. Bax, Bridge, Warlock and Moeran feature prominently alongside Irish composers including Ina Boyle and Joan Trimble, contemporary Irish composers Jennifer Walshe, Gerald Barry and Seóirse Bodley, and a new work from Belfast-born Phillip Hammond.
Singers from Ireland are soprano Ailish Tynan, tenor Robin Tritschler, mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin and baritone Gavan Ring and from England, baritone Gareth Brynmor John; There is also a masterclass with the great Irish mezzo, Ann Murray and eminent Irish actor Fiona Shaw joins us for a sequence of words and music with singers and instrumentalists.
Instrumentalists in this year’s programme include super-star flautist Adam Walker, virtuoso international oboist Nicholas Daniel and the highly acclaimed Gildas String Quartet, while musicologist, Katy Hamilton chairs the weekends’ talks.
The festival draws to a close where it began in St Laurence’s Church with Evensong at 5pm with music by Stanford and Wood.
For full programme details and to book, visit ludlowenglishsongweekend.com
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