Last Sunday 3rd April I was invited along with George Todica to attend the Leeds Lieder Festival hosted at the Leeds College of Music. The Leeds Lieder festival is an amazing opportunity for anyone interested in Art song to immerse themselves in this fabulous art form through performances, master-classes and pre –concert talks.
The master class on the Sunday was on between 10:00 am to 13:00 pm, presented by Roderick Williams, a baritone and the Artistic Director of the festival. It featured four duos from UK conservatoires and I thoroughly enjoyed their programmes and the insight provided by Roderick to each of the pieces. The master-class was very thought provoking and left me with plenty to think about for my own performances.
In the afternoon George and I performed alongside four other duos in the Master-class Fringe Concert held in the recital room. It was great opportunity to perform with other students from all over the country in this fabulous festival.
The other duos were :
Andrew Henley ( tenor ) and Conal Bembridge-Sayers ( piano ) from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Emily Gray ( mezzo soprano ) and Francesca Fierro ( piano ) from Trinity Laban.
Adam Gouldin ( baritone ) and Marcus Bingham ( piano ) from Leeds College of Music
Michael Vickers ( baritone ) and Ljubica Stojanovic ( piano ) from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
During conversations with members of audience after the concert I got a real sense of the enthusiasm and passion that they had for the event and I was so pleased to have taken part.
If you are in the Leeds area next year between the 21st and the 23rd April then I would encourage you to drop in and listen to what is on offer I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
What an honour to be chosen. Well done!
I just heard Camilla Tilling at the Melbourne Recital Centre singing Frauenliebe und Leben and Les Nuits D’ete. Just loved it. Maybe one day you’ll appear at the MCR in the Great Performers series?
Great songs, I’ve been working hard learning new repertoire this year. I would love to visit Australia in our Winter 😊 to sing.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful and may the Lord bless the two of you. Wishing you God speed in all your plans Charlotte and give God the glory for all the success you are having.
Thank you Rev Tim 😊 you are so nice you always brighten my day.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful thing you are doing here, through sharing your experiences, you are mentoring so many others in their quest for excellence! Awesome.
Thank you Annette, I never knew about Leeds Lieder, if I had I would have gone as a paying visitor there is so much going on for music lovers.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Sounds like the concert was just as exciting for you as it was for the audience.
Great things happening in Leeds.
It was my first visit to Leeds, the car parks are expensive hehe. I love that my training is taking me on new experiences and new Cities. Thanks Darlene.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Glad you’d a great time at the Leeds Lieder Festival, Charlotte. I just sat through watching/listening to the whole of Beethoven’s 9th on our public broadcasting TV with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, under the direction of conductor Mark Laycook. It’s not hard for me to imagine you singing the soprano there. 🙂
Thank you Arti that’s a lovely compliment. I love musical mornings I’m listening to some new songs I’m thinking of learning whilst I’m catching up on my blog, if they stop me to make me concentrate on listening I know they’re the ones for me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy to hear you had a wonderful time along with the audience. You are amazing, Charlotte! Keep reaching for your dream! You are well on your way! 😘
Thank you Janice. Such lovely people, a man started to talk to me in Norwegian because he thought I was Scandinavian which was wonderful, everyone had a program with all the song words and English translation which I thought was a good idea.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hello Charlotte,
One photo, you are the only lady present, and then in the next photo angle, three ladies appear. There is a magic about you, so in that spirit, continued success.
Thank you 😊 it’s a kind of magic 🎶 or maybe just my parents came to watch as a surprise so their lense was concentrated on me 🙋🏼. I prefer the magic 💕.
Best wishes
Charlotte✨
So lovely for you to have such wonderful opportunities! Keep up the great work in keeping the arts alive. 🙂
Thank you Iris, so important to keep the arts not just alive but kicking too. I will be working hard to do that and try to connect to new audiences.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful event and opportunity. Go you!
Thanks Marie, I’m going for it 💃🏻 hehe.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How wonderful!
Thank you, are those lavender fields behind you in your pic, such a beautiful colour.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Yes, those are lavender fields. We were in the Cotswolds, England. The color and smell were stunning!
Masterclasses are wonderful! So much can be learned from them. I am glad you enjoyed yourself at at the Leeds Lieder Festival. Have a wonderful week, Charlotte.
I love to watch masterclasses and taking part in the ones in Bergen last year taught me so much. To be honest I’ve have had so many good singing teachers and coaches in Glasgow that each new lesson is like a masterclass.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Bravo! Great news. I always wonder how they get to pianos to look so shiny. Random thought, yes. But it’s always wonderful to be in the company of those who share the same passions as you do. Keeps you going.
I love the lacquer on pianos, shame they’re mainly black 😄 joking. You’re so right Eric, when I’m learning lots of new programs I can get quite isolated and wrapped up but I have some lovely friends, two took me out last night and I’m very grateful for them.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Brilliant Charlotte.
Thanks Gill, you know I think you and Terry would enjoy a weekend in Leeds watching this festival, maybe if they invite me back 😀🙋🏼.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Excellent! Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
Thank you Jorge, thank you for reading and visiting me ☺️.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Sounds like you had a fun time. I love that dress. It would fast become a favorite if I had it!
The photo doesn’t really do it justice Dianne, it’s black lace so intricate I love it. I wear my dresses threadbare so I’m sure you’ll see lots of it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I hope so.
Great to learn about the Leeds Lieder festival… I am very fond of these kind of initiatives. I am sure you will profit from it.
Thanks so much for sharing, dear Charlotte. Have a great weekend. Sending love Aquileana 😀
It was a very uplifting event for me. I love performing and the space was super, sitting in the room facing the audience to watch the others was brilliant too. Hope you have a wonderful weekend too.
Love and best wishes
Charlotte 💕