Artists

Mary Bevan soprano
Joseph Middleton piano 

Soprano Mary Bevan joins Leeds Song Director Joseph Middleton for an evocative recital built around Elegy, the pair’s acclaimed 2025 release on Signum Records.

Born from their programme From Earth to Heaven, Elegy reflects a period of profound personal loss and the healing power of music. Shaped by Bevan’s experience of grieving for her father, the performance traces a moving arc from sorrow to consolation, exploring the mystery of death and the quiet transcendence found in song.

The programme features works by Schubert, Fauré, Mahler, Jeanne Landry, Errollyn Wallen, Pauline Viardot, and others—an intimate journey through mourning, reflection, and renewal. Their previous album Voyages was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award, and their recitals across Europe have earned widespread critical praise.

The Times

“The seduction starts with her very first notes.”

Gramophone

“It’s well nigh faultless, the whole thing, and the most moving recital I’ve heard for some time.”

Programme

Maurice Ravel
Kaddisch (from 2 mélodies hébraïques)  

Henri Duparc
Elégie  

Ernest Chausson
Hébé Op. 2 No. 6   

Pauline Viardot
Lamento  

Jeanne Landry
Mort quand tu me viendras prendre  

Gabriel Fauré
Après un rêve Op. 7 No. 1  

Johannes Brahms
O Tod from 4 Serious Songs Op. 121  

Clara Schumann
Die gute Nacht 

Robert Schumann
Requiem (from 6 Gedichte von N Lenau und Requiem Op. 90)  

Franz Schubert 
Nachtstück D672
Die junge Nonne D828  

[INTERVAL] 

Henry Purcell 
Now that the sun hath veiled his light (An Evening Hymn on a Ground) Z193 arr. Benjamin Britten 

Errollyn Wallen
Peace on Earth 

Frank Bridge 
Come to me in my dreams 

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Tired (from 4 Last Songs) 

Samuel Barber 
The Desire for Hermitage (from Hermit Songs Op. 29) 

Richard Strauss 
Morgen! 

Edvard Grieg 
Dereinst, Gedanke mein Op. 48 No. 2 

Franz Schubert 
Auflösung D807  

Gustav Mahler 
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (from Rückert Lieder)