Soprano Claire Ward is joined by her ensemble who have gathered songs on texts by female writers of the 17th Century, to include some of ‘Les Précieuses’ such as Madame de Scudery and Henriette de Coligny. The collection includes English writers such as Katherine Phillips (who translated Purcell’s O Solitude from the original French text).

A chance to step out of the hustle and bustle of central London and enjoy the soothing sounds of voice and lute in the beautiful surroundings of St Martin’s.

With music by Sébastien Le Camus, Michel Lambert, Bénigne de Bacilly, Honoré d’Ambruis, Henry Lawes and Henry Purcell.

Performers

Claire Ward Soprano
Kristiina Watt Theorbo
Miriam Nohl Continuo

British/Irish soprano Claire Ward is a 2022-2024 City Music Foundation Artist and a young artist with Opera Prelude since 2021. Recent highlights include making her solo debuts at Queen Elizabeth Hall with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by John Wilson, and at Cadogan Hall in Bach’s B Minor Mass with Thames Philharmonic Choir, as well as touring with the Monteverdi Choir and John Eliot Gardiner as an apprentice. Shortly after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2019, Claire joined the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, performing Bach Cantatas conducted by Philippe Herreweghe, and covered the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at The Grange Festival. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons Claire performed at Opera Holland Park in the chorus and as Frantik in the Cunning Little Vixen. Claire made her Oxford Lieder debut in 2019, returning to the festival in 2021. She is a regular performer with Live Music now, working in a variety of settings such as care homes and schools.