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Elizabeth Llewellyn & Simon Lepper

Elizabeth Llewellyn & Simon Lepper

Soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn and pianist Simon Lepper delve into the emotive landscapes of the late Romantic era.

Elizabeth Llewellyn is one of today’s best-loved British singers, praised for her ‘beautiful depth of expression and emotional intelligence’ (The Telegraph). She has chosen a programme of opulently sensual songs in five languages for her recital with duo partner Simon Lepper.

The whole repertoire is drawn from the colourful world of late Romanticism. Richard Strauss and Henri Duparc’s emotionally intense songs sit alongside impressionistic depictions of nature by Ernest Chausson. The duo also showcases Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's settings of poems by Christina Rossetti. Llewellyn is a champion of the Victorian composer's work, having recorded 25 of his songs for her debut recital recording in 2021.

The programme also features Amy Beach’s settings for Robert Browning’s poetry and a group of folksong-inflected delights from Antonín Dvorák. It is bookended by a rarely heard marvel from Gerald Finzi and songs by Giacomo Puccini that round off the concert in near-operatic style.

The Warm Up: The Queen's Hall

Festival Director Nicola Benedetti highlights the morning ritual of chamber concerts at The Queen's Hall, and how this special atmosphere of calm and concentration is the perfect start to your Festival day.

The Warm Up: The Queen's Hall

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0 Stars

Llewellyn is in such fine voice: she has everything for Strauss’s long lines, and her smoky soprano flares with power and vulnerability.

The Times

Supported by Brenda Rennie

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    Programme

    A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

    The encore performed on 7 Aug was Coleridge-Taylor, 'Life and Death'.


    Elizabeth Llewellyn Soprano

    Simon Lepper Piano


    Finzi Till Earth Outwears Op 19

    Duparc Chanson triste

    Duparc L’invitation au voyage

    Chausson ‘Sérénade italienne’, ‘La derniere feuille’, ‘Le colibri’ & ‘Les papillons’ from 7 Mélodies Op 2

    Strauss ‘Einerlei’ from 5 Kleine Lieder Op 69

    Strauss ‘Nachtgang’ from 3 Lieder Op 29

    Strauss ‘Du meines Herzens Krönelein’ & ‘Ach lieb, ich muss nun scheiden’ from Schlichte Weisen Op 21

    Strauss ‘Ständchen’ from 6 Lieder Op 17

    Coleridge-Taylor ‘Oh, what comes over the sea?’, ‘When I am dead, my dearest’, ‘Oh, roses for the flush of youth’ & ‘Unmindful of the roses’ from Six Sorrow Songs Op 57

    Beach Three Browning Songs Op 44

    Dvořák ‘O, nasi lásce nekvete’, ‘V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest’, ‘Já vím, ze v sladke nadeji’, ‘Nad krajem vévodí lehky spánek’ & ‘V té sladké moci ocí tvych’ from Písne milostné Op 83

    Puccini Terra e mare

    Puccini Sole e amore

    Puccini Casa mia

    Puccini La primavera

    Puccini Sogno D’or

    Puccini Morire?

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