News and Reviews
Huw Montague Rendall / Joseph Middleton review – Leeds Lieder impresses with Schumann, Mahler and Vaughan Williams
You arrange to hear a tenor you’ve heard maybe 25 times, and then you find that tenor replaced by a baritone who creates just as much excitement as you felt all those 25 times ago.
Leeds Lieder Festival 2025: Song, the secret of Eternity
Leeds Lieder’s Director, Jospeh Middleton, talks about the 20th Anniversary of the first Leeds Lieder Festival and how far the Festival has come.
Leeds Lieder festival Opening Gala review – a good old-fashioned Schubertiade
The song festival – with Arts Council funding reinstated – opened with a meaty all-Schubert programme full of delights and camaraderie.
Engaging the audience: James Newby and Joseph Middleton
A new collaboration sees Leeds Lieder at a cool café/bar with an engaging and beautifully sung programme of songs inspired by folk-music A former fuel storage tank is not the usual venue for a song recital, but Hyde Park Book Club is no usual venue and last night's...
Schubert’s songs brought stirringly and scintillatingly to life
Soprano Nikola Hillebrand and baritone Roderick Williams led the way at Leeds Lieder, a marvellously un-stuffy celebration of art song.
Carte Blanche: Two decades of song in the North
As he celebrates ten years as the Director of Leeds Lieder, Joseph Middleton talks to James Jolly about his passion for song and bringing new audiences to the art form.
Punjabi Proverbs: Classical Celebration of Cross-Cultural Composers
Leeds Lieder Festival Secures Financial Support from Arts Council England
The Leeds Lieder Festival has received support from Arts Council England for its 2024 edition. A heartening message from Leeds Lieder Director, Joseph Middleton, who celebrates his tenth anniversary with the Festival this year: "Following last year’s...
“On Wings Of Song”: Leeds Lieder Festival Celebrates 20 Years Of Musical Excellence
Leeds Lieder Festival returns to mark its 20th anniversary, filling the city with song from Saturday 13 April to Sunday 21 April 2024.
Ilkley Gazette praises Leeds Lieder Festival 2023
"Leeds Lieder’s effect on the musical landscape of Leeds has been transformational." – Geoffrey Mogridge, Ilkley Gazette Writing for the Ilkley Gazette, classical music critic Geoffrey Mogridge expressed praise for the 2023 edition of the Leeds Lieder Festival,...
Véronique Gens at Leeds Lieder lauded by Charles Hutch Press
"This was mélodie perfection." – Martin Dreyer, Charles Hutch Press In a review for the Charles Hutch Press, writer Martin Dreyer praised Véronique Gens' "remarkable" ability and her dynamism with accompanist Susan Manoff at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival's Celebrity...
musicOMH praises Keenlyside and Middleton’s Winterreise
★★★★★ "The quality of this performance gave ample evidence of just how worthwhile this festival has proven to be." – Melanie Eskenazi, musicOMH musicOMH awarded Sir Simon Keenlyside and Joseph Middleton's Closing Gala recital a full five stars as the 2023 Leeds Lieder...
Applauds from the Telegraph in Festival review
★★★★ "Rewarding as ever, the annual art-song festival has long won converts through its sheer quality – and yet, ACE has pulled all its funding" – Ivan Hewitt, The Telegraph Reviewing the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival as part of the Telegraph's monthly live classical...
Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 reviewed by the Guardian
★★★★ "A masterclass in elegance, restraint and the fine art of communication" – Clive Paget, The Guardian Véronique Gens' celebrity recital with Susan Manoff was praised as part of the "world-class" offering in the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival's "ear-ravishing"...
The Times praises James Newby and Joseph Middleton in review
★★★★★ "A master of lieder triumphs in Leeds" – Neil Fisher, The Times The Times has awarded five stars in its review of James Newby and Joseph Middleton's recital at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival. Neil Fisher praised the "disarming openness" of James Newby and the...
James Newby & Joseph Middleton reviewed in musicOMH
★★★★★ "A superb recital from a young baritone and accompanist at the height of their game. Come along on Saturday to hear the same pianist with Simon Keenlyside in Winterreise." – Melanie Eskenazi, musicOMH James Newby and Joseph Middleton's recital at Leeds Lieder...
Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 Opening Gala recital reviewed
"Leeds's incomparable festival of song has got off to a powerful start." – Martin Dreyer, Charles Hutch Press Reviewing the Opening Gala recital at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival, Martin Dreyer of Charles Hutch Press complimented the performances of Mark Padmore CBE...
Leeds Lieder Festival previewed in the Yorkshire Post
"[Leeds Lieder] has consistently punched above its weight, bringing world-class classical singers and pianists to perform in Leeds." – Yvette Huddleston, The Yorkshire Post The 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival and the Leeds Lieder Angels Appeal have been featured in the...
Leeds Lieder launches Angels Appeal
Leeds Lieder has launched the Angels Appeal crowdfunding campaign to help support the 2023-24 Concert Season, the 2024 Festival, and our vital outreach work in schools and communities. Donate to support art song in Leeds and beyond by clicking here. ...
Joseph Middleton pens funding op-ed for the Arts Desk
"We are being fast-tracked to a society where culture and especially classical music is being systematically stamped out of the communities in which we live." – Joseph Middleton Following news of a cut to Leeds Lieder's funding, Director Joseph Middleton has written...
Huw Montague Rendall / Joseph Middleton review – Leeds Lieder impresses with Schumann, Mahler and Vaughan Williams
You arrange to hear a tenor you’ve heard maybe 25 times, and then you find that tenor replaced by a baritone who creates just as much excitement as you felt all those 25 times ago.
Leeds Lieder Festival 2025: Song, the secret of Eternity
Leeds Lieder’s Director, Jospeh Middleton, talks about the 20th Anniversary of the first Leeds Lieder Festival and how far the Festival has come.
Leeds Lieder festival Opening Gala review – a good old-fashioned Schubertiade
The song festival – with Arts Council funding reinstated – opened with a meaty all-Schubert programme full of delights and camaraderie.
Engaging the audience: James Newby and Joseph Middleton
A new collaboration sees Leeds Lieder at a cool café/bar with an engaging and beautifully sung programme of songs inspired by folk-music A former fuel storage tank is not the usual venue for a song recital, but Hyde Park Book Club is no usual venue and last night's...
Schubert’s songs brought stirringly and scintillatingly to life
Soprano Nikola Hillebrand and baritone Roderick Williams led the way at Leeds Lieder, a marvellously un-stuffy celebration of art song.
Carte Blanche: Two decades of song in the North
As he celebrates ten years as the Director of Leeds Lieder, Joseph Middleton talks to James Jolly about his passion for song and bringing new audiences to the art form.
Punjabi Proverbs: Classical Celebration of Cross-Cultural Composers
Leeds Lieder Festival Secures Financial Support from Arts Council England
The Leeds Lieder Festival has received support from Arts Council England for its 2024 edition. A heartening message from Leeds Lieder Director, Joseph Middleton, who celebrates his tenth anniversary with the Festival this year: "Following last year’s...
“On Wings Of Song”: Leeds Lieder Festival Celebrates 20 Years Of Musical Excellence
Leeds Lieder Festival returns to mark its 20th anniversary, filling the city with song from Saturday 13 April to Sunday 21 April 2024.
Ilkley Gazette praises Leeds Lieder Festival 2023
"Leeds Lieder’s effect on the musical landscape of Leeds has been transformational." – Geoffrey Mogridge, Ilkley Gazette Writing for the Ilkley Gazette, classical music critic Geoffrey Mogridge expressed praise for the 2023 edition of the Leeds Lieder Festival,...
Véronique Gens at Leeds Lieder lauded by Charles Hutch Press
"This was mélodie perfection." – Martin Dreyer, Charles Hutch Press In a review for the Charles Hutch Press, writer Martin Dreyer praised Véronique Gens' "remarkable" ability and her dynamism with accompanist Susan Manoff at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival's Celebrity...
musicOMH praises Keenlyside and Middleton’s Winterreise
★★★★★ "The quality of this performance gave ample evidence of just how worthwhile this festival has proven to be." – Melanie Eskenazi, musicOMH musicOMH awarded Sir Simon Keenlyside and Joseph Middleton's Closing Gala recital a full five stars as the 2023 Leeds Lieder...
Applauds from the Telegraph in Festival review
★★★★ "Rewarding as ever, the annual art-song festival has long won converts through its sheer quality – and yet, ACE has pulled all its funding" – Ivan Hewitt, The Telegraph Reviewing the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival as part of the Telegraph's monthly live classical...
Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 reviewed by the Guardian
★★★★ "A masterclass in elegance, restraint and the fine art of communication" – Clive Paget, The Guardian Véronique Gens' celebrity recital with Susan Manoff was praised as part of the "world-class" offering in the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival's "ear-ravishing"...
The Times praises James Newby and Joseph Middleton in review
★★★★★ "A master of lieder triumphs in Leeds" – Neil Fisher, The Times The Times has awarded five stars in its review of James Newby and Joseph Middleton's recital at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival. Neil Fisher praised the "disarming openness" of James Newby and the...
James Newby & Joseph Middleton reviewed in musicOMH
★★★★★ "A superb recital from a young baritone and accompanist at the height of their game. Come along on Saturday to hear the same pianist with Simon Keenlyside in Winterreise." – Melanie Eskenazi, musicOMH James Newby and Joseph Middleton's recital at Leeds Lieder...
Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 Opening Gala recital reviewed
"Leeds's incomparable festival of song has got off to a powerful start." – Martin Dreyer, Charles Hutch Press Reviewing the Opening Gala recital at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival, Martin Dreyer of Charles Hutch Press complimented the performances of Mark Padmore CBE...
Leeds Lieder Festival previewed in the Yorkshire Post
"[Leeds Lieder] has consistently punched above its weight, bringing world-class classical singers and pianists to perform in Leeds." – Yvette Huddleston, The Yorkshire Post The 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival and the Leeds Lieder Angels Appeal have been featured in the...
Leeds Lieder launches Angels Appeal
Leeds Lieder has launched the Angels Appeal crowdfunding campaign to help support the 2023-24 Concert Season, the 2024 Festival, and our vital outreach work in schools and communities. Donate to support art song in Leeds and beyond by clicking here. ...
Joseph Middleton pens funding op-ed for the Arts Desk
"We are being fast-tracked to a society where culture and especially classical music is being systematically stamped out of the communities in which we live." – Joseph Middleton Following news of a cut to Leeds Lieder's funding, Director Joseph Middleton has written...
Huw Montague Rendall / Joseph Middleton review – Leeds Lieder impresses with Schumann, Mahler and Vaughan Williams
You arrange to hear a tenor you’ve heard maybe 25 times, and then you find that tenor replaced by a baritone who creates just as much excitement as you felt all those 25 times ago.
Leeds Lieder Festival 2025: Song, the secret of Eternity
Leeds Lieder’s Director, Jospeh Middleton, talks about the 20th Anniversary of the first Leeds Lieder Festival and how far the Festival has come.
Leeds Lieder festival Opening Gala review – a good old-fashioned Schubertiade
The song festival – with Arts Council funding reinstated – opened with a meaty all-Schubert programme full of delights and camaraderie.
Engaging the audience: James Newby and Joseph Middleton
A new collaboration sees Leeds Lieder at a cool café/bar with an engaging and beautifully sung programme of songs inspired by folk-music A former fuel storage tank is not the usual venue for a song recital, but Hyde Park Book Club is no usual venue and last night's...
Schubert’s songs brought stirringly and scintillatingly to life
Soprano Nikola Hillebrand and baritone Roderick Williams led the way at Leeds Lieder, a marvellously un-stuffy celebration of art song.
Carte Blanche: Two decades of song in the North
As he celebrates ten years as the Director of Leeds Lieder, Joseph Middleton talks to James Jolly about his passion for song and bringing new audiences to the art form.
Punjabi Proverbs: Classical Celebration of Cross-Cultural Composers
Leeds Lieder Festival Secures Financial Support from Arts Council England
The Leeds Lieder Festival has received support from Arts Council England for its 2024 edition. A heartening message from Leeds Lieder Director, Joseph Middleton, who celebrates his tenth anniversary with the Festival this year: "Following last year’s...
“On Wings Of Song”: Leeds Lieder Festival Celebrates 20 Years Of Musical Excellence
Leeds Lieder Festival returns to mark its 20th anniversary, filling the city with song from Saturday 13 April to Sunday 21 April 2024.
Ilkley Gazette praises Leeds Lieder Festival 2023
"Leeds Lieder’s effect on the musical landscape of Leeds has been transformational." – Geoffrey Mogridge, Ilkley Gazette Writing for the Ilkley Gazette, classical music critic Geoffrey Mogridge expressed praise for the 2023 edition of the Leeds Lieder Festival,...
Véronique Gens at Leeds Lieder lauded by Charles Hutch Press
"This was mélodie perfection." – Martin Dreyer, Charles Hutch Press In a review for the Charles Hutch Press, writer Martin Dreyer praised Véronique Gens' "remarkable" ability and her dynamism with accompanist Susan Manoff at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival's Celebrity...
musicOMH praises Keenlyside and Middleton’s Winterreise
★★★★★ "The quality of this performance gave ample evidence of just how worthwhile this festival has proven to be." – Melanie Eskenazi, musicOMH musicOMH awarded Sir Simon Keenlyside and Joseph Middleton's Closing Gala recital a full five stars as the 2023 Leeds Lieder...
Applauds from the Telegraph in Festival review
★★★★ "Rewarding as ever, the annual art-song festival has long won converts through its sheer quality – and yet, ACE has pulled all its funding" – Ivan Hewitt, The Telegraph Reviewing the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival as part of the Telegraph's monthly live classical...
Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 reviewed by the Guardian
★★★★ "A masterclass in elegance, restraint and the fine art of communication" – Clive Paget, The Guardian Véronique Gens' celebrity recital with Susan Manoff was praised as part of the "world-class" offering in the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival's "ear-ravishing"...
The Times praises James Newby and Joseph Middleton in review
★★★★★ "A master of lieder triumphs in Leeds" – Neil Fisher, The Times The Times has awarded five stars in its review of James Newby and Joseph Middleton's recital at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival. Neil Fisher praised the "disarming openness" of James Newby and the...
James Newby & Joseph Middleton reviewed in musicOMH
★★★★★ "A superb recital from a young baritone and accompanist at the height of their game. Come along on Saturday to hear the same pianist with Simon Keenlyside in Winterreise." – Melanie Eskenazi, musicOMH James Newby and Joseph Middleton's recital at Leeds Lieder...
Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 Opening Gala recital reviewed
"Leeds's incomparable festival of song has got off to a powerful start." – Martin Dreyer, Charles Hutch Press Reviewing the Opening Gala recital at the 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival, Martin Dreyer of Charles Hutch Press complimented the performances of Mark Padmore CBE...
Leeds Lieder Festival previewed in the Yorkshire Post
"[Leeds Lieder] has consistently punched above its weight, bringing world-class classical singers and pianists to perform in Leeds." – Yvette Huddleston, The Yorkshire Post The 2023 Leeds Lieder Festival and the Leeds Lieder Angels Appeal have been featured in the...
Leeds Lieder launches Angels Appeal
Leeds Lieder has launched the Angels Appeal crowdfunding campaign to help support the 2023-24 Concert Season, the 2024 Festival, and our vital outreach work in schools and communities. Donate to support art song in Leeds and beyond by clicking here. ...
Joseph Middleton pens funding op-ed for the Arts Desk
"We are being fast-tracked to a society where culture and especially classical music is being systematically stamped out of the communities in which we live." – Joseph Middleton Following news of a cut to Leeds Lieder's funding, Director Joseph Middleton has written...
Louise Alder (winner of the Joan Southerland Audience prize, Cardif Singer of the World 2017) and Joseph Middleton’s recital from last year’s Leeds Lieder Festival featured as part of the Cardiff Singer of the World focus on BBC Radio 3.
Listed again HERE