Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st October 2020
Leeds Lieder announces first live recitals of the 2020-21 season, and among the first socially distanced song recitals outside of London since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. In collaboration with Leeds Town Halland Leeds International Concert Season, and supported by Arts Council England, seven outstanding artists will perform on the magnificent main stage of Leeds Town Hall in front of audiences of up to 180 per recital. These recitals will be live-streamed via a pay per view platform. Under the Artistic Directorship of pianist Joseph Middleton, Leeds Lieder has boasted a 60% increase in audiences in the last four years, been shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Award, and has enjoying glowing critical acclaim. Supported by Arts Council England, arts@leeds, the Foyle Foundation, and the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, it places song at the centre of the cultural landscape in the north of England, championing the art-form, educating and growing audiences and commissioning new works. Over the pandemic the charity has continued to engage with audiences on-line. The weekend of activity in October will include three recitals given by leading British artists Ian Bostridge, Louise Alder, Iestyn Davies with Joseph Middleton, three rising star recitals (Harriet Burns, Benson Wilson, Nardus Williams) two of which celebrate Black History Month, a series of on-line masterclasses for 20 young artists given by Roderick Williams, Louise Alder, Malcolm Martineau and Iain Burnside, free on-line content for school children across Yorkshire, and a series of pre-recorded lectures that will illuminate the recitals.
Full information can be found on our website – https://leedslieder.org.uk
Here is a statement from Leeds Lieder Artistic Director Joseph Middleton – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW4j6K-uDww