Leeds Lieder Festival 2024

On Wings of Song

Saturday 13th - Sunday 21st April

“We get knocked down and we bounce back” should be the motto for Leeds Lieder.

Arts Council England (ACE) last year rejected an application for a grant of £60,000 towards the 2023 Festival. A subsequent crowd funding appeal raised just over half of the £60K shortfall.

ACE has however had a change of heart. The funding body will now be giving “generous support” to this year’s glittering 20th anniversary Leeds Lieder Festival.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Joseph Middleton is celebrating his 10th anniversary as festival director. Said Joseph: “The Arts Council has recognised that what we are doing for communities, audiences and artists in the north is vital, life-enhancing work.”

The range of performance venues will embrace Opera North’s Howard Assembly Room, the Venue at Leeds Conservatoire, Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds Sikh Centre, Kirkstall Abbey and Leeds Minster. Pudsey Civic Hall will host the culminating concerts of the Festival's education outreach projects, involving more than 1,000 school students.

Artists slated to perform at this milestone 20th Leeds Lieder Festival include acclaimed singers Benjamin Appl, Carolyn Sampson, Fleur Barron, James Gilchrist, Roderick Williams, James Newby, Nikola Hillebrand and Ema Nikolovska. They will perform alongside esteemed pianists Graham Johnson, Roger Vignoles and Joseph Middleton. Festival highlights include “Schubertiade”, a 20th Anniversary Gala Recital with Roderick Williams, Roger Vignoles, Nikola Hillebrand, Joseph Middleton and Leeds Lieder Young Artists.

Dame Felicity Lott and Graham Johnson will lead a Day of French Song in homage to Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924).

This year’s “Bring and Sing!” event will again be led by Andrea Brown, head of choral conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Amateur singers are invited to come together to rehearse and perform Vivaldi’s Gloria in the glorious setting of Leeds Minster.

Song Path, the Musical Walking Trail explores the atmospheric ruins of Kirkstall Abbey. Singers Jess Dandy and Joanna Harries with saxophonist Jesse Bannister will lead the Song Path. Leeds Lieder Young Artists Programme showcases twenty outstanding young artists. All will be coached in masterclasses with Benjamin Appl, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Felicity Lott, Graham Johnson, James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook. The young artists will perform to Festival audiences at a special showcase concert and at the late night Lieder Lounge in Leeds Conservatoire’s rooftop bar.

Leeds is truly a Mecca for lovers of art song.

Visit www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/ Or phone: 0113 222 3434 (Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm)