Song has the possibility to connect us to other humans, to our past as well as the future, to other cultures, and it also goes some way to explaining the most profound aspects of the human condition. 2025 is the 20th Anniversary of the first Leeds Lieder Festival and I wonder whether those intrepid initiators of the first concerts would have dared dream that 20 years on, Leeds would host such a joyous week of music-making. Much has changed in that time, and we continue to programme boldly, to educate widely and inspire profoundly. What a joy it is that our President, the great Elly Ameling, will join us to help celebrate the ongoing success of Leeds Lieder.
The title of this year’s Festival comes from the final song Egyptian soprano Fatma Said will sing in her eclectic programme – words by Khalil Gibran and music by that Lebanese polymath Najib Hankash. The opening stanza reads:
Give me a flute and sing,
For song is the secret of eternity,
And the sound of the flute remains
Beyond the end of existence.
So much of the Festival is concerned with timelessness, from the ethereal wonder of Fauré’s Requiem led by Gareth Malone, to our ‘touch of exotic’ day that features beloved regular Roderick Williams in recital. Before this, Richard Stokes explores one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written, Goethe’s West-Östlicher Divan. Continuing on from last year’s remarkable recitals in unusual places, we tell stories once again in settings surprising: North Brewing and The Attic. Our community events include the extraordinary Composers & Poets Forum, much praised in the press. This project connects us to the city of Leeds and its community in the most personal of ways, and seeks to make a lasting snapshot of song-writing for future generations to enjoy. More new music comes from the pen of Helen Grime, whose works seem illuminated from the inside out. It is a thrill to commission such a remarkable voice for the Festival. The
last time I premièred one of her cycles it had a profound effect on me and I look forward with real excitement to receive the scores for her next
major work. I have no doubts that Louise Alder will prove the perfect vehicle for this song cycle. Alice Coote and Julius Drake seek to challenge the very notion of the traditional song recital programme. As Alice writes “despite genre stereotypes – all great music has something equally revealing to say.”
For many who love song however, Schubert remains the touchstone, the composer who defies categorisation and the one whose personal alchemy is woven into the eternal messages in his music. With that being the case, can there be a better way to start and end the Festival than with two great cycles, Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin performed by two of the greatest exponents of the art form, Florian Boesch and Christoph Prégardien?
Every year I am overwhelmed by the generosity of individuals and trusts and foundations supporting our work. The past 12 months have seen such heartening philanthropy. Thank you to all our friends and supporters who have invested so generously in the Festival. Thanks to you we can mount our boldest and most colourful programme to date. I very much look forward to welcoming you to our events whether you are coming along to try something new, or whether you are a long-standing friend of the Festival. One thing is for sure, everyone is most welcome at Leeds Lieder. Come and be immersed in song that will connect you to your past, present and future.
Joseph Middleton
Director