Weekend of song returns to Ludlow
Voices will be raised in song across multiple venues for three days as a town's celebration of English vocal music returns.
The Ludlow English Song Weekend is an event with a specific focus – English music written for voice by composers from the mid 20th century and back through history, both well loved and less familiar.
Running from Friday to Sunday evening, the mini-festival will see a host of performances from world renowned singers and musicians at both the Church of St Laurence and Ludlow Assembly Rooms.
Previously the celebration has not been every year, instead taking place roughly every two or three – but now it is hoped to become an annual event as it has expanded and developed in recent incarnations under the guidance of pianist and former BBC Radio 3 presenter Iain Burnside – including regularly having concerts as part of weekend broadcast on the BBC's classical-focussed radio station.
Iain, who is artistic director of the weekend, said: "There is nothing quite like the Weekend of English Song.
"Ludlow is the perfect home for this rich feast of music, performed by internationally acclaimed singers.
"Our Weekend includes return visits from star baritones Roderick Williams and Ashley Riches, while welcoming new faces, Louise Alder, Kitty Whately, Bethan Langford, Robin Tritschler, Nicky Spence and Gareth Byrnmor John.
He said the weekend promised "another programme combining the familiar and the neglected, placing favourite songs next to exciting new repertoire.
"This year has a Transatlantic flavour, looking at musical connections between Britain and America. Whatever your musical tastes, you will be welcome in Ludlow – to hear music afresh and to make new friends."
The centrepiece of the weekend will be a celebration of the American poet Walt Whitman in St Laurence’s Church on Saturday evening.
Whitman settings by Vaughan Williams, Gurney, Weill and Bridge will be interspersed with works by Mark-Anthony Turnage, Philip Lancaster and Martin Bussey.
Alex Jennings, who plays The Duke of Windsor in The Crown, will read Whitman poems, letters and prose.
Earlier the same day a recital of British composers setting American poetry will features 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.
Originally a triennial event set up by the Finzi Friends to promote the music of Gerald Finzi, the weekend now reflects the full extent of English song repertoire, combining mid-20th century songs with earlier 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 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.
