If Music Be the Food of Love

Songs to Shakespeare

Concert, Le Salon de Helen Buchholtz

Shakespeare’s words are a universal inspiration for composers of song. Settings of the bard’s famous poetry span centuries, languages, and styles, undergoing constant reinvention. This recital focuses on English and American settings of Shakespeare from the twentieth century by Benjamin Britten, Michael Tippett, Roger Quilter, Madeleine Dring, Elisabeth Maconchy, Amy Beach, Alison Bauld and Eric Coates, as well as looking back to Tudor and Jacobean England with settings of Henry Purcell arranged by Britten, and an excerpt from his opera, ‘Gloriana’. This music and these texts bring us elation and tragedy, love lost and love found – proving that all the world truly is a stage.

Music by Amy Beach, Benjamin Britten, Eric Coates, Madeleine Dring, Henry Purcell, Roger Quilter et Michael Tippet.

With Jonathan Hanley (tenor) and Gavin Roberts (piano).

Language: EN

Booking required | To the tickets.

Le Salon de Helen Buchholtz

Detailed programme

Henry Purcell (1659? – 1695)
arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Madeleine Dring (1923-1977)
from: Seven Shakespeare Songs
The Cuckoo
Under the Greenwood Tree
Crabbed Age and Youth
Take, O Take those Lips Away

Michael Tippet (1905-1998)
from: Songs for Ariel
Come Unto These Yellow Sands
Full Fathom Five
Where the Bee Sucks

Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994)
from: Four Shakespeare Songs
Come Away, Death
The Wind and the Rain
King Stephen

Roger Quilter (1877 – 1953)
from: Five Shakespeare Songs
Fear No More the Heat o’ the Sun
It Was a Lover and his Lass

Benjamin Britten
from: Gloriana (opera)
Second Lute Song

Henry Purcell
arr. Benjamin Britten
Turn, Then Thine Eyes

Amy Beach (1867-1944)
from: Three Shakespeare Songs
O Mistress Mine Take, o Take Those Lips Away
Fairy Lullaby

Alison Bauld (*1944)
Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind
Where Should Othello Go?

Eric Coates (1886-1957)
from: Four Old English Songs
Orpheus with his Lute
Under the Greenwood Tree
Who Is Sylvia?
Sigh No More, Ladies

The exhibition Esch-Uelzecht : les années 50 et 60 accompanying Le Salon de Helen Buchholtz is open to the public after the concert until 11pm.