Marked out early in her career as the logical successor to Christa Ludwig and Brigitte Fassbaender, Angelika Kirchschlager now enjoys a reputation as one of the finest artists currently before the public. Loved by audiences and colleagues alike for her generosity of spirit and probing intellect, this ‘in conversation’ with Andrew McGregor, well-known to BBC Radio 3 listeners as the presenter of Record Review, is guaranteed to be engaging, sincere and witty.

Well known for her informative, amusing, probing and highly entertaining talks, we are thrilled to welcome to Leeds one of the country’s pre-eminent Lieder specialists. Dr Natasha Loges is Head of Postgraduate Programmes at the Royal College of Music and has co-edited Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall: Between Private and Public Performance.

Hasselhorn and Middleton juxtapose two of our featured composers in this recital. Schumann’s great settings of dramatic Heine and heartbreaking Kerner poems bookend four folksongs by Brahms. German-born Hasselhorn stands at the forefront of today’s young Lieder singers. A prize-winner at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Das Lied and Wigmore International Song Competitions.

The closing masterclass of the 2019 Festival sees our outstanding duos working with the great Irish mezzo-soprano Ann Murray DBE, to find clarity of expression and a deeper understanding of the songs they have prepared. We are also proud to offer the inaugural Leeds Lieder/Schubert Institute of Great Britain Song Prize to the duo with the most promise. The winning duo will also receive an invitation to appear in the Leeds University International Concert Series next season.

Natasha Loges will talk about how we approach the compositions of Robert and Clara Schuman against the backdrop of women’s cultural achievements in the nineteenth century. She will outline some of the social and legal restrictions professional women faced, but also offer thoughts on how we can connect meaningfully with that era through music.

Much-loved Swedish soprano Miah Persson, an artist in her prime, makes her Leeds Lieder début in a programme which explores femininity and motherhood in the first half, before turning to her Scandinavian roots in the second. She is joined by Leeds Lieder Director Joseph Middleton to close the 2019 Festival in what will certainly be a must-see event for Lieder enthusiasts.