Rebecca Clarke was a pioneering female composer and performer in the early 20th century. As a composer, she specialized in chamber music, performing much of it herself as a violist.
Available on Spotify.
With The Bach Choir conducted by David Hill.
Available on Spotify.
Glen Cunningham and Anna Tilbrook celebrate their Scottish heritage in a programme of music connected to Scotland, not only in the folk orientated songs of Robbie Burns, but also in settings of Burns by Schumann, and Robert Louis Stevenson by Liza Lehmann and Reynaldo Hahn. To these are added a completely new song cycle, also to texts by Robert Louis Stevenson, by the Scottish composer, Stuart MacRae.
Glen Cunningham is a graduate of the Royal College of Music’s Opera Studio and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Glen was a Scottish Opera Emerging Artist 2021/2022 and a member of the Opéra Studio at Opéra national du Rhin 2022/24.
Available from Delphian Records and on Spotify.
Born in Sussex in 1877, Roger Quilter was a fellow-student of Percy Grainger, Cyril Scott, and H. Balfour Gardiner at the Hoch Conservatory, in Frankfurt, where he studied for almost five years under the guidance of the German professor of composition Iwan Knorr.
Available from Chandos, Amazon and Spotify.
During the period of lockdown in 2020, tenor Alessandro Fisher and his wife spent many hours in their garden. A heightened awareness of the beauty of nature, the flowers in their garden and the changes to the garden as winter moved to spring, and then to summer formed the basis of this beautifully curated recital.
All the songs are about flowers, the language of flowers, and flowers as a tokens of love. Above all, the album is about the way songs of the many composers on this album reference deep human emotions and the role of flowers in these emotions.
Where words fail, the language of flowers and nature take over. Nature regenerates, life continues, though for some composers, the short- lived glory of flowers is also an allegory for loss, or indeed the transience of romantic love.
This live recording was made by BBC Radio 3 at the Wigmore Hall in London. Alessandro was the recipient of a BBT Fellowship in 2022.
Gramophone Magazine review and Editor’s Choice – March 2024
“I’d suggest that not since Martin Isepp accompanied Janet Baker… has a British singer made a more auspicious recital debut on record.”
“..the modulations and rubato acutely judged by Fisher’s pianist, Anna Tilbrook.”
Available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Lucy Crowe makes her Linn recital debut with a programme of lieder by Berg, Richard Strauss and Schoenberg, which perfectly highlights why she is known as one of the leading lyric sopranos of her generation.
Lucy is joined by pianist Anna Tilbrook, with whom she has forged a near symbiotic connection over a twenty-year professional partnership, comprising numerous performances at Wigmore and Queen Elizabeth Halls, London, and Carnegie Hall, New York.
The programme encompasses both the beginning and end of Strauss’s prodigious songwriting career with five songs from his first published set Acht Gedichte aus Letzte Blätter plus his posthumously published swansong of sublime beauty, Vier letzte Lieder. Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder are landmark compositions which invoke the late Romantic world of Strauss; they sit alongside Vier Lieder by Berg’s mentor Schoenberg, whose post-Wagnerian chromaticism points to the composer’s later style. Following their Wigmore Hall performance in June 2020 The Guardian stated: ‘Berg’s Seven Early Songs suits Crowe uncommonly well, with her exquisite tone, fastidious sense of line, and understated but telling way with words.’
Available from Linn and Spotify.
Available from Chandos, Amazon and Spotify.
Having previously recorded British repertoire on Chandos, James Gilchrist joins the pianist Anna Tilbrook nine years after their previous recording, in a lyrical journey through some of Vaughan Williams’s best songs and rarely heard chamber works. They are joined by Philip Dukes, ‘Great Britain’s most outstanding viola player’, according to The Times.
This album captures the composer’s love for both the voice and the viola, bringing together five works for tenor and piano, two for tenor, viola, and piano, and two works for viola and piano alone.
Central to the recording is the fresh, invigorating, and at times reflective cycle Songs of Travel, composed between 1901 and 1904, of special interest is also an arrangement of ‘Rhosymedre’ by the chief music critic of The Times, Richard Morrison, recorded here for the first time and performed by the same forces who gave the premiere of the arrangement in St John’s Smith Square in 2016, to critical acclaim.
Available from Chandos, Amazon, iTunes and Spotify.
James Gilchrist’s latest recording for Linn encompasses three of the greatest examples of the song cycle genre.
Moving away from English song into the core Germanic Lieder repertoire, James’s expressive tenor voice is ideally suited to showcase the emotional nuances of Schumann’s vocal writing. Liederkreis shows Schumann at his most lyrical and deeply romantic; incredibly Op. 24 was his first published vocal composition. Dichterliebe, Schumann’s best-known song cycle, is regarded as one of the finest in the German language, notable for its perfect pairing of Heinrich Heine’s poetry with Schumann’s music.
Available from Linn Records, Amazon or iTunes.
Schubert – Die Schöne Mullerin
Schubert – Einsamkeit
Schubert – A selection of lieder, including “Du bist die Ruh”
Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel
Jonathan Dove – Under Alter’d Skies
Schumann – Dichterliebe Op. 48
Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel
Jonathan Dove – Under Alter’d Skies
Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel
Schubert – Schwanengesang
Tickets available from the Honeybee Bakery, 48 Station Road Milngavie (0141 956 4044), or at the venue on concert night (cheque or cash payment only).
www.milngaviemusic.org
Butterworth – Six Songs from “A Shropshire Lad”
Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel
Schumann – Dichterliebe Op. 48
Schumann – Liederkreis Op. 39
Schumann – Dichterliebe Op. 48
Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel
Box office: 01738 621031
www.perthchambermusic.org.uk
Schubert – Die Schöne Mullerin
Box office: 01721 725777
musicinpeebles.org.uk
Schumann – Liederkreis Op.39
Mendelssohn – Lieder selection
Poulenc – Metamorphosen, Bleuet, C, Le Disparu
and songs by Vaughan Williams, Gurney, Bridge, Finzi and Quilter
www.musicatoxford.com
Box office: 01865 244806
Mozart – Piano Quartet in E flat K493
Schumann – Piano Quartet in E flat Op.47
musicinallendale.weebly.com
Box office: 01434 345 071 or 01434 683 562
Berkeley Five Chinese Songs Op 78
Britten Songs from the Chinese Op 58
Sally Beamish Four Songs from Hafez
Schubert ‘Ständchen’ from Schwanengesang
Dowland ‘In Darkness let me Dwell’ & ‘Come, heavy sleep’
Britten Nocturnal after John Dowland Op 70
Schumann Liederkreis Op 39
www.eif.co.uk/2015/gilchrist
Box office: 0131 473 2000
Benjamin Britten – The Holy Sonnets of John Donne
Concert also includes Messiaen – Quartet for the End of Time
cheltenhamfestivals.com/whats-on
Box office: 0844 880 8094
Franz Schubert – Schwanengesang
André Previn – Two Remembrances
Maurice Ravel – Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé
Johannes Brahms – String Sextet in B flat Op.18
Box office: +353 (0)27 52788/9
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Ten Blake Songs
Thomas Adès – Arcadiana
David Matthews – One Foot in Eden
Box office: +353 (0)27 52788/9
Ralph Vaughan Williams – On Wenlock Edge
Box office: +353 (0)27 52788/9
11.00am
Felix Mendelssohn – Lieder
Felix Mendelssohn – Piano Trio in D minor Op.49
1.05pm
Robert Schumann – Myrten Op.25
3.30pm
Robert Schumann – Tanzlied, In der Nacht (duets)
Robert Schumann – Jasminenstrauch, Die Blume der Ergebung, Schneeglöckchen, Meine Rose
Robert Schumann – Three Romances for Cello and Piano
Robert Schumann – Liederkreis Op.24
7.30pm
Robert Schumann – Adagio and Allegro Op.70
Robert Schumann – Fantasiestücke Op.12
Robert Schumann – Piano Quintet Op.44
Robert Schumann – Dichterliebe Op.48
www.sjss.org.uk/whats-on
Box office: 020 7222 1061
Robert Schumann – Piano Quartet Op.47
Robert Schumann – Liederkreis Op.39
Mendelsoohn – Octet Op.20
www.sjss.org.uk/whats-on
Box office: 020 7222 1061
George Butterworth – A Shropshire Lad
Ivor Gurney – In Flanders, By a Bierside
John Ireland – Blow out you bugles, Spring Sorrow
Franz Schubert – Die Schone Mullerin
Mendelssohn – Piano Trio in D minor Op.49
Schumann – Piano Quartet Op.47
The charismatic duo of James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook continue their exploration of English Song in My Beloved is Mine. This new recording explores the song cycles of Benjamin Britten, including ‘On This Island’, ‘The Holy Sonnets of John Donne’, ‘Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo’ and ‘Canticle I ‘My Beloved is Mine”.
Available from Linn Records, Amazon or iTunes.
Dauntsey’s School, West Lavington, Wiltshire, SN10 4HE James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano) Programme to include: Purcell, arranged by Britten and Tippett Britten Winter Words Ravel Histoire Naturelles Schubert Four Spring Songs For more information, contact: dauntseys.org.uk 01380 814500
Thursday 7th March, 2013, 7.30pm
Bushell Hall, Birkenhead School, Bidston Rd, Oxton CH43 2JD
James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
A centenary tribute to Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Songs by Britten, Purcell, Berkeley, Vaughan Williams, Warlock, Gurney, Bridge, concluding with Britten’s Winter Words
For more information, contact:
info@tworiversfestival.co.uk
Box office: 0151 651 3095
Thursday 21st February 2013, 1pm
Holy Trinity Church, Regent Rd, Leicester LE1 6WY
Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Sarah Burnett (bassoon), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
Including music by Handel, Andre Previn, Elspeth Brooke and Poulenc
For more information, contact:
0116 225 4920 www.musicfestival.co.uk
Wednesday 6th February, 2013, 7.30pm
Methodist Church Hall, High St, Bideford
Victoria Simmonds (mezzo soprano), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
A celebration of the centenary of the birth of Kathleen Ferrier: “The Music and Letters of Kathleen Ferrier 1912 – 1953”.
For more information, call:
01237 423112
Friday 1st February 2013, 7.45pm
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont St, Hexham, NE46 3LS
(01434 652477 www.queenshall.co.uk)
Sunday 3rd February 2013, 2.30pm
Kelso High School, Bowmont St, Kelso TD5 7EG
(info@kelsomusicsociety.com)
Monday 4th February 2013, 7.30pm
Ripon Cathedral
(01765 658071 www.riponconcerts.co.uk)
James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano), Puertas String Quartet
Elgar: Piano Quintet
Vaughan WIlliams: On Wenlock Edge
Songs by Vaughan Williams, Quilter, Warlock, Gurney, Bridge
Thursday 31st January 2013, 1.05pm
Shaw Library, Old Building, LSE, London
Free Concert with Caroline MacPhie (soprano) and Anna Tilbrook (piano)
“A Sea Voyage”
Including songs by Faure, Strauss, Haydn, Britten, Berlioz and Poulenc
For more information, contact:
events@lse.ac.uk
or call 020 7955 6043
Sunday 11th November 2012, 3pm
The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park
James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
Music by Purcell, Britten, Berkeley, Finzi, Butterworth, Ireland
Presented by Norfolk & Norwich Chamber Music
For more information, contact:
Norfolk & Norwich Chamber Music, The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park NR4 7UH
01603 628319 www.norwichchambermusic.co.uk
Tuesday 16th October 2012, 1.30pm
All Saints’ Church, Okehampton
Caroline Macphie (soprano), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
The convergence of the twain: a recital to mark the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the “Titanic”.
Haydn: The Mermaid’s Song,
Head: The ships of Arcady
Britten: Seascape from On this island
Fauré: Au bord de l’eau, Les berceaux
Berlioz: I’ile inconnue
Bizet: Douce mer
Schubert: 3 songs
Poulenc: Les chemins de l’amour
Strauss: Mein Herz ist stumm
Handel: Farewell, ye limpid springs
Part of the Two Moors Festival
For more information, contact:
01643 831006 www.thetwomoorsfestival.com
Sunday 14th October 2012, 7.30pm
Widecombe-in-the-Moor church, Widecombe
Come into the parlour – a concert to celebrate Charles Dicken’s birth in 1812
Henry Russell: Mr Wardle’s Carol
Michael Balfe: Come into the Garden, Maude
Stanford: La belle dame sans merci
and many other delights
with Marcus Farnsworth (baritone) and Donald Maxwell (baritone)
Part of the Two Moors Festival
For more information, contact:
01643 831006 www.thetwomoorsfestival.com
Sunday 6th May 2012, 4pm
Wigmore Hall
Ekaterina Scherbachenko (soprano), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
Winner of Cardiff Singer of the World 2009, Ekaterina Scherbachenko and Anna Tilbrook will be performing Romances by Tchaikovsky and Sviridov.
For more information, contact:
Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP
Box Office 020 7935 2141
Thursday 19th April 2012, 7.30pm
The Oriental Club
Clare Langan (flute), Anna Tilbrook (piano)
Bach: Sonata in E major
Mozart: Andante in C
Mendelssohn: Rondo Capriccioso
Poulenc: Sonata for flute and piano
Martinu: Sonata for flute and piano
Debussy: Syrinx
Chaminade: Concertino
For more information, contact:
The Oriental Club, Stratford House, Stratford Place, London, W1C 1ES
Sunday 4th March 2012, 3pm
Iffley
Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Anna Tilbrook (piano)
Works to include:
Mozart – Piano Concerto in A major K414
Saturday 3rd March 2012, 7.30pm
Jacqueline du Pre Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Oxford
Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Anna Tilbrook (piano)
Works to include:
Elgar – Piano Quintet and other works
James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook’s recent release of Schubert’s Winterreise on Orchid Records has been chosen as the CD of the Month in the BBC Music Magazine Christmas edition 2011.
Third and final recording in renowned British tenor James Gilchrist’s series of Schubert song recitals for Orchid Classics. Andrew Mellor in BBC Music referred to Gilchrist’s “treasure-trove of a voice”.
Available from Orchid Classics, Amazon or iTunes.
Settings of seven poems by Ludwig Rellstab and six by Heinrich Heine, with Gabriel Seidl’s Die Taubenpost.
Available from Linn Records or from Amazon.
Leighton sets words by Ruskin and Hopkins; Britten sets words by Thomas Hardy.
Available from Linn Records or from Amazon.
Die Schöne Müllerin (‘The Beautiful Maid of the Mill’), Schubert’s classic setting of poems by Wilhelm Müller is generally accepted to be a masterpiece of the song genre.
Editor’s Choice in Gramophone, November 2009
Available from Orchid Classics or from Amazon.
Settings of both French and English poetry. Includes premiere recordings.
Available from CHANDOS or from Amazon.
A selection of early Twentieth Century masterpieces by great English composers. Songs by Vaughan Williams, Warlock, Bliss and Gurney.
Finalist Solo Vocal Album of the Year 2008 Classic FM Gramophone Awards
Available from Linn Records or from Amazon.
Twenty six English Songs by John Jeffreys.
John Jeffreys (b.1927 – d.2010) was a British composer who specialised in music for solo voice. His songs, exemplified by this fine collection, are masterworks of the genre directly in the tradition inherited from Moeran, Delius, Finzi, and especially Warlock. Beautifully performed by James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook these works are timeless and will have lasting appeal.
Available from Divine Art or from Amazon.