Artists

Fresh from her opening night as Susanna in Opera North’s production of The Marriage of Figaro, rising star Hera Hyesang Park makes her Leeds Song debut in a vibrant recital with pianist Joseph Middleton.

Their programme spans the elegance of Strauss and Rossini, the fire and passion of Spanish and Catalan composers — including Obradors, Granados, Halffter, and Montsalvatge and the evocative sound world of contemporary Korean song, with works by Unyoung Na and Duman Cho.

Park’s expressive soprano, praised for its clarity, colour, and dramatic intelligence, brings each song vividly to life. This is a rare opportunity to hear Park in an intimate recital setting, following her acclaimed operatic performance the night before. A celebration of vocal storytelling across cultures, styles, and centuries.

Event in partnership with the Howard Assembly Room.

Programme

Stefano Donaudy (1879–1925)
Amorosi miei giorni
Vaghissima sembianza
O del mio amato ben

Paolo Tosti (1846–1916)
Non t’amo più
L’alba separa dalla luce l’ombra

Isaac Albéniz (1860–1909)
Recuerdos de viaje, Op. 71
– Rumores de la Caleta (Malagueña)

Xavier Montsalvatge (1912–2002)
Cinco canciones negras
Cuba dentro de un piano
Punto de Habañera
Chévere
Canciŏn de cuna para dormir un negrito
Canto negro

Interval

Antón García Abril (1933–2021)
María Soliña

Namdu Cho (b. 1984)
Bird Song

Traditional Korean song
On the Way to You

Enrique Granados (1867–1916)
La maja y el ruiseñor (from Goyescas)

Ernesto Halffter (1905–1989)
Ay, che linda moça

Gabriel Fauré (1862–1918)
Clair de lune

Claude Debussy (1845–1924)
Estampes
– La soirée dans Grenade

Franz Lehár (1870–1948)
Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß (from Giuditta)

María Grever (1885–1951)
Te quiero, dijiste

Consuelo Velázquez (1916–2005)
Bésame mucho

Carlos Gardel (1890–1935)
El día que me quieras