A delightfully eclectic programme from two young artists, Harriet Burns (soprano) and Michael Pandya (piano), with songs celebrating the joys of nature and the animal kingdom. From Beethoven to Flanders and Swann there is something for everyone in this light-hearted jaunt through our wonderful world.

Programme

Beethoven – Es war einmal ein König
Barber – The Monk and His Cat from Hermit Songs
Fauré – La Papillon et la Fleur
Gibbs – Five Eyes
Chabrier – Villanelle des petits canards
Barnard – Early Stroll 29/30.3.30 from Three Early Stroll Songs
Wright – Quilled Sonnet
Gounod – Au Rossignol
Canteloube – O up!
Clarke – The Seal Man
Caplet – 3 Fables de la Fontaine – Le Corbeau et le Renard, La Cigale et la Fourmi, Le Loup et L’agneau
Chausson – Le Colibri Op2 no.7
Bennett – Sonnet on a Monkey from A Garland for Marjory Fleming
Flanders & Swann – The Whale
Bennett – The Mouse and the Bumblebee from Songs before sleep
Porter – The Tale of the Oyster

Performers

Harriet Burns Soprano
Michael Pandya Piano

British soprano Harriet Burns is fast developing a reputation as a “polished, witty, expressive and sweet-toned” (The Times) performer both in recital and on stage. An acclaimed interpreter of song, Harriet has performed at the Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Oxford Lieder and Leeds Lieder Festivals, International Lied Festival Zeist, Ryedale Festival and de Singel with pianists including James Baillieu, Imogen Cooper, Christopher Glynn, Graham Johnson, Sholto Kynoch, Malcolm Martineau, Joseph Middleton and Ian Tindale. Recent debuts also include Sage Gateshead with Nicholas McGegan, the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus in Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus and Bach’s Magnificat.

On the operatic stage, recent roles include Oriana (cover, Amadigi, Handel) for Garsington Opera, Sister Grace (The Angel Esmeralda, Lliam Paterson), Nerina (La Fedeltà premiata, Haydn), and Aminta (Aminta e Fillide, Handel) with Guildhall Opera. Harriet will be covering the role of Sifare (Mitridate, re di Ponto, Mozart) at Garsington Opera, and will perform King Harald’s Saga (Judith Weir) for Waterperry Opera in 2023.