James Way tenor

Natalie Burch piano

Lotte Betts-Dean mezzo-soprano

Ross Ramgobin baritone

Alis Huws harp

Annemarie Federle horn

Kitty Whatley and Natalie Burch present a typically inventive programme placing different settings of the same texts side by side. The writer Romain Rolland cited Debussy’s Chansons de Bilitis as the most perfect example he knew of French word-setting. The lyrical songs of Rita Strohl, full of mysticism and symbolism further explore the dreamworld of Bilitis. The sound-world and choice of poetry selected by Rebecca Clarke and Samuel Barber make for fascinating comparisons, writing, as they were, on opposite sides of the Atlantic. 

Delphian records disk release - Britten Canticles and Priaulx Ranier Declamations

James Way, Lotte Betts-Dean, Ross Ramgobin, Hugh Cutting, Alis Huws, Anne-Marie Federle and Natalie Burch.

Francesca Chiejina, Bethany Horak-Hallett and Natalie Burch

In 1914 Thomas Hardy wrote of ‘our indifferent century’; a generation later W.H. Auden urgently sought to fuse the political with the creative.

Today, profoundly unsettled by the turn of the world’s politics, three artists respond with a programme that explores the changes and challenges we face presently, but one that also offers hope, levity an even a degree of irreverence, and never loses sight of the joy and beauty of nature.

Hardy and Auden found their perfect musical counterparts in the songwriting of Finzi and Britten; in our own times William Marsey and Joanna Ward add their own musical voices of political urgency and wistful yearning.

Oxford International Song Festival

Johannes Held and Natalie Burch

Today is the 150th birthday of American actuary, composer and musical magpie Charles Ives, whose huge song output provides a whirlwind tour of influences from German Lied to jazz themes and American folk song. To celebrate the occasion, Johannes Held (‘absolutely outstanding – not only for the beauty of his voice, but also for his physical engagement’, Amadeus Online) and Natalie Burch (‘a gifted sound-painter’, Classical Music) pair songs by Ives and Schubert, drawing out thematic and musical connections between these two prodigious song composers.

Oxford International Song Festival

James Newby and Natalie Burch

James Newby was a BBC New Generation Artist from 2018 to 2020, and has been described by The Times as ‘a master of Lieder’ with ‘a wonderfully mellifluous tone which he can deploy in a confessional whisper or an anguished cry.’ Today he is joined by our 2024 Associate Artistic Director, Natalie Burch, for a continental journey: an eclectic programme that wanders around Europe with music by Schubert, Liszt, Ravel, Grieg and others.

Oxford International Song Festival

Roderick Williams and Natalie Burch

For the first evening recital of 2024, we are delighted to welcome the ever-brilliant baritone Roderick Williams, a ‘raconteur in Lied par excellence’ (Seen and Heard International). He is joined by esteemed pianist Natalie Burch, who is also our Associate Artistic Director this year. Together they perform Schubert’s Schwanengesang (‘Swan Song’), the composer’s final collection of songs. Written in 1828 and published just months after his death, these songs show the composer reaching a new pinnacle in the art form, and leave us wondering what miracles he might have achieved had he lived beyond the age of 31. A thrilling night of music, poetry and artistry to open the Festival.

Roderick Williams and Natalie Burch

Internationally acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams performs this song cycle in the splendid setting of Stratford's Town Hall. The concert marks the 60th anniversary of the Stratford-upon-Avon Chamber Music Society.

British mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately returns to Oxford Song accompanied by pianist Natalie Burch, with an inspired programme of English songs including works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Rebecca Clarke.

Programme tbc

The broadcaster, writer and lecturer Richard Wigmore examines images of Franz Schubert from his contemporaries (many of his friends were artists) to the present day. His talk is interspersed with Schubert songs, performed by prize-winning soprano and former Oxford Song Young Artist Siân Dicker, with pianist Natalie Burch.

GLOBAL RELEASE DATE: 20 OCTOBER 2023

In 1914 Thomas Hardy wrote of ‘our indifferent century’; a generation later W.H. Auden urgently sought to fuse the political with the creative.

Today, profoundly unsettled by the turn of the world’s politics, three artists respond with a programme that explores the changes and challenges we face presently, but one that also offers hope, levity an even a degree of irreverence, and never loses sight of the joy and beauty of nature.

Hardy and Auden found their perfect musical counterparts in the songwriting of Finzi and Britten; in our own times William Marsey and Joanna Ward add their own musical voices of political urgency and wistful yearning.

‘If I wasn't a couturier, I would probably have devoted myself to the theatre.’ Yves Saint Laurent, or YSL, is one of the most celebrated designers of the last century, and this recital brings to life his love of theatre and his glittering influence on the Parisian stage. We welcome back James Way (‘a consistent scene stealer’ The New York Times) and Natalie Burch, with dancer Samantha Rodulfo, for a homage that includes ballet-inspired songs from Offenbach to Mahler, via new arrangements of the cult singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Images of YSL’s costume sketches are provided by the Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech.

You are warmly invited to take part in the first event of this year’s Festival! Bring your sketchpad and enjoy drawing the artists, creating a free response to the music, or simply come and listen to some beautiful, reflective music from Hildegard of Bingen, Franz Schubert, Clara Schumann, Nico Muhly and more, performed by two rising stars of the song world.

Rising-stars Camilla Harris (soprano) and Natalie Burch (piano) return to the Easter Festival to present Songs of Love and Longing, a programme which includes gems by Liszt, Rachmaninov & Strauss in the beautiful candlelit setting of St Endellion Church

BEETHOVEN Twelve Variations on Ein Madchen from Mozart’s Magic Flute Op. 66
MADELEINE DRING Danza Gaya for Oboe & Piano
RACHMANINOV Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor

Bethany Horak-Hallett - mezzo soprano

How to Be Alone

Hildegard – O beata infantia
Edvard Grieg – En Svane
George Butterworth – O fair enough are sky and plain
Franz Schubert – Im Abendrot
Clara Schumann – Ich Stand in Dunkeln Träumen
Clara Schumann – Ich hab- in deinem Augen
Clara Schumann – Die Stille Lotusblume
Nico Muhly – Quiet Music
Henri Duparc – Phidyle
Dilys Elwyn-Edwards – Cloths of Heaven
Alexander von Zemlinksy – Sie kam zum Schloss Gegangen
Gustav Mahler – Ich bin der Welt

Details tbc.

Fleur Barron, Francesca Chiejina and Natalie Burch will record and perform this programme exploring the political challenges we have faced in this country in the recent past and the solace that is often found in nature. The programme will include Britten ‘On this Island’, Finzi ‘Before and After Summer’ and two new commissions from William Marsey and Joanna Ward.

Soprano Camilla Harris and Natalie Burch present a short recital ‘opening’ for Roderick Williams and Susie Allan’s recital, The Distant Beloved.

Repertoire tbc

Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo)

Natalie Burch (piano)

Philip Ross Bullock (speaker)

To conclude today’s events, we turn to the Quiet Songs of the leading Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov. This monumental cycle, nearly two hours long, is a contemporary masterpiece. Tonight we will hear a substantial part of the cycle performed by Lotte Betts-Dean (a former Oxford Lieder Young Artist) and Natalie Burch, with a 15-minute introduction given by Philip Ross Bullock. This promises to be an unforgettable occasion.

Performing intriguing and various forms of vocal and piano music, SongSpiel is a group of young singers and pianists energising the song repertoire, specifically accompanied song for multiple voices. Inspired by the multiple voice song cycles by Brahms and Schumann, they perform classics while commissioning and exploring new work in the form. They join us for NightMusic as four singers and piano, all soloists in their own right, performing a song cycle by Associate Composer William Marsey and a new commission from Welsh Music organisation Ty Cerdd, as well as a variety of songs, solo vocal music, duets, trios, and quartets by Brahms, Schumann, Ned Rorem, Priaulx Rainier, Jonathan Dove, and Stephen Hough.

Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo)

James Way (tenor)

Natalie Burch (piano)

Soprano Anna Cavaliero and pianist Natalie Burch present a recital of songs including much-loved works by Schubert, Britten and Korngold.

A song recital celebrating 50 years of the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, focusing on the women who made it all possible.

Pianist Natalie Burch and invited singers perform a song recital celebrating 50 years of the Britten Pears Young Artist programme. With music by Imogen Holst and pieces that were performed by Viola Tunnard, ranging from Purcell and Britten to Cole Porter.

Part of Britten Pears Young Artist Programme at 50.

Natalie Burch, the Viola Tunnard Artist within the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme for 2021-22, is joined by an alumnus of the programme James Way. They will perform Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise in a new English translation by Jeremy Sams.

This is the first concert of a joint project James and Natalie are launching exploring ageing in the performance process. Winterreise: LifeCycle will see the duo record the cycle every 5 years, exploring what it means to perform it at different stages of life and how audiences engage or react differently.

Joanna Songi, soprano, Mimi Doulton, soprano and Natalie Burch, piano

For one day only, the Garrison Chapel plays host to Chelsea’s premier salon where you are invited to immerse yourself in a programme of vivid and lyrical works by female composers. Just as the intellectual playgrounds of 19th century Parisian salons were presided over by women of rare talent, this celebration sees female genius take centre stage. Expect gems from: Francesca Caccini, the prolific Baroque composer, poet and performer; Pauline Viardot, the celebrated opera singer who made her name as a favourite of Rossini and Bellini; Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, whose male relatives have for too long cast a shadow on these exceptional women’s music; and Maconchy, the Celebrated British-Irish composer, and first female chair of the Composers guild of Great Britain. Performed by three rising stars of the International concert stage, in an immersive salon environment, don’t miss the chance to share in this celebration of voice – it’s sure to be the talk of town!