Fleur Barron (mezzo soprano), Ashok Klouda (cello) and Joseph Middleton (piano)

The daughter of a Singaporean mother and British father, Fleur Barron grew up in the Far East and also spent considerable time in the U.S. and Great Britain. She has been hailed a ‘charismatic star’ by the Boston Globe, and a ‘knockout performer’ by The Times. In a typically wide-ranging, thought-provoking and thoughtful programme Barron brings, for the first time, Chinese folk and art songs to Leeds Lieder. Woven around songs by Brahms and Ives, these gems illuminate a programme she has called “Dreams, Homeland and Childhood”. The programme facilitates cross-cultural dialogue in the most interesting way. Two different settings of Music when soft voices die bookend this special recital.

“Dreams, Homeland and Childhood”

Bun-Ching Lam (b. 1954): Music When Soft Voices Die
Brahms – Heimweh I: Wie traulich war das Fleckchen, op.63
Chen Yi (b. 1953): Bright Moonlight
Brahms – Heimweh II: O Wüsst ich doch den Weg zurück, op.63
Ives – My Native Land
Brahms – Heimweh III: Ich sah als Knabe, op.63

Mussorgsky, from The Nursery

1. With Nanny
2. In the Corner
3. With Dolly
4. Sailor the Cat
5. At Bedtime
6. On the Hobby-Horse

Kamala Sankaram: (b. 1978), The Far Shore
Chinese Folksong: Northeast Lullaby
Chinese Folksong: Fengyang Drums

Borodin: Two songs for voice, cello and piano
1. She No Longer Loves Me
2. Listen, Dear Friend, to my Song

Brahms: Gestillte Sehnsucht from op.91 for voice, cello, piano

Libby Larsen:(b. 1950), Music When Soft Voice Die for voice, cello, piano