RVW at the London English Song Festival

William Vann's London English Song Festival is returning on 3 June 2015 with eight concerts which really live up to the festival's name as during these concerts all of RVW's original songs are being performed. Thus giving us a chance to assess the lesser known works alongside the better known ones. The festival starts on Wednesday 3 June 2015 and runs until Thursday 11 June and all concerts are at St George's Church, Hanover Square with a number of early evening concerts too. 

The opening concert is Vaughan Williams and Folk-Song with soprano Louise Kemeny, baritone Gareth John and William Vann. Then soprano Raphaela Papadakis and violinist Alessandro Ruisi explore the songs for voice and violin, with mezzo-soprano Katie Bray, baritone Johnny Herford and William Vann in RVW's Rossetti settings (both concerts 4 June). On 5 June baritone Roderick Williams joins mezzo-soprano Clare Presland and Iain Burnside for RVW's RL Stevenson settings Songs of Travel plus early songs and the wonderful Four Last Songs.

Soprano Eve Daniel, mezzo-soprano Marie Seidler, tenor John Porter, baritone Henry Neill and Frederick Brown give us songs from the operas, followed by mezzo-soprano Ciara Hendrick and baritone Jonathan McGovern with Vann in songs by RVW and his contemporaries (both concerts 9 June). Soprano Mary Bevan and tenor Alessandro Fisher are joined by Matthew Scott (clarinet) and James Turnbull (oboe) and Vann, for songs for voice and woodwind (10 June). The festival finale sees Vann, the Benyounes Quartet and tenor Nicky Spence in On Wenlock Edge (11 June).

Further information and booking from the Cadogan Hall website.