Roderick Williams, Fatma Said, Louise Alder, Florian Boesch Among Headliners of Leeds Lieder Festival’s 20th Season

By Afton Markay
(Photo credit: Bort, Williams, &  Porter)

The 2025 Leeds Lieder Festival has announced its programming.

The 20th anniversary season taking place under the artistic direction of Joseph Middleton. This year’s theme is “Song, the Secret of Eternity.”

Recitals

Mezzo-soprano Patricia Nolz and pianist Joseph Middleton present the first recital, “Lunchtime Opening.”

Performance Date: April 5, 2025

Baritone Florian Boesch performs Franz Schubert’s “Winterreise.” Richard Stokes gives a pre-concert talk.

Performance Date: April 5, 2025

Gareth Malone leads the “Bring and Sing! Concert” in Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem.”

Performance Date: April 5, 2025

Soprano Erika Baikoff and pianist Soohong Park present a concert of works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Maurice Ravel, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Performance Date: April 6, 2025

“A touch of exotic” is performed by baritone Roderick Williams OBE and pianist Andrew West. Richard Stokes leads a pre-concert talk.

Performance Date: April 6, 2025

The Erda Ensemble featuring mezzo-soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons, flutist Chloë Vincent, and harpist Olivia Jageurs give the evening recital.

Performance Date: April 7, 2025

Soprano Fatma Said performs works by Felix Mendelssohn, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Manuel De Falla, Fernando Obradors, Sherif Mohie El Din, and Najib Hankash. Joseph Middleton joins at the piano. Dr. Katy Hamilton gives the pre-concert talk.

Performance Date: April 8, 2025

Up next is tenor Freddie Ballentine and pianist Kunal Lahiry. Together they perform traditional Spirituals, works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Aaron Copland, Margaret Bonds, and others.

Performance Date: April 9, 2025

The Leeds Lieder Young Artists Showcase takes place.

Performance Date: April 10, 2025

Soprano Louise Alder and pianist Joseph Middleton give the World Premiere of the Leeds Lieder Commissioned piece, “Seasons,” by Helen Grime. The composer gives the pre-concert talk.

Performance Date: April 10, 2025

The next lunchtime recital features soprano Kitty Whately and pianist Natalie Burch. This recital is set in a relaxed environment and may be suitable for (though not limited to) people with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, or other sensory and/ or communication needs.

Performance Date: April 11, 2025

“The Rebellious Recital” is performed by mezzo-soprano Alice Coote and pianist Julius Drake. Dr. George Kennaway gives the pre-concert talk. The lineup features music ranging from Edward Elgar to Elvis Costello and Irving Berlin.

Performance Date: April 11, 2025

The Leeds Lieder Young Artists present Late Night Lieder.

Performance Date: April 11, 2025

The Young Artists give their finale concert.

Performance Date: April 12, 2025

Tenor Christoph Prégardien and pianist Joseph Middleton perform Franz Schubert’s “Die schöne Müllerin.” Dr. George Kennaway gives the pre-concert talk.

Performance Date: April 12, 2025

Masterclasses

Soprano Elly Ameling gives the first masterclass of the festival. Participants include the Leeds Lieder Young Artists.

Performance Date: April 6, 2025

Pianist Anna Tilbrook leads the next masterclass.

Performance Date: April 7, 2025

Elly Ameling leads another masterclass for the Young Artists.

Performance Date: April 7, 2025

The Festival’s fourth masterclass is lead by soprano Amanda Roocroft.

Performance Date: April 9, 2025

Pianist Julius Drake gives the next masterclass.

Performance Date: April 10, 2025

The sixth masterclass is lead by Sir Thomas Allen.

Performance Date: April 11, 2025

The young artists work with Dame Felicity Lott in the final masterclass.

Performance Date: April 11, 2025

Lectures & Workshops

Richard Stokes leads the Young Artists through a lecture recital exploring musical settings inspired by Goethe’s “West-Östlicher Divan.”

Performance Date: April 6, 2025

The Composers & Poets Forum Showcase presents “A Leeds Songbook.”

Performance Date: April 9, 2025

Pianist Graham Johnson OBE leads the lecture recital, “Schubert and Opera in the Home.” He is joined by the Leeds Lieder Young Artist.

Performance Date: April 12, 2025

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