Festival Closing Recital - Kathleen's Songbook: Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton

Saturday 18 April 2026

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To close the 2026 Festival, we welcome Leeds Song Patron and the UK’s foremost mezzo-soprano, Dame Sarah Connolly along with Festival Director Joseph Middleton to give a very special final recital, and one which is dedicated to Kathleen Evans BEM, current Chair and former Festival Administrator. Kathleen retires from her position as Chair this year, and in recognition of all the time, dedication and passion she has given to the organisation over many years, this programme is made up of her favourite songs and poems: music that celebrates, inspires, consoles and uplifts.

Tonight’s performance by the winners of the Northern Aldborough Festival’s New Voices Singing Competition 2025 is generously supported by the Yorkshire Music Future Fund.

Performers

Rachel Munro (soprano)
Jia Ning Ng (piano)

Price

£28*
£10* (unwaged/disabled)
Free (U30/students)

Venue
  • The Venue at Leeds Conservatoire

Start time
7pm

* +£1.50 booking fee

Programme

Britten
Let the florid music praise (On This Island)

Crumb
3 Early Songs

Ernesto Lecuona
Maria La O (Romanza de María La O)
Dame Sarah Connolly & Joseph Middleton

Mozart
Abendempfindung

Schubert
An die Musik
Ganymed
Die junge Nonne

Robert Schumann
Widmung

Clara Schumann
Liebst du um Schönheit

Brahms
Von waldbekränzter höhe
Wie Melodien
Unbewegte laue Luft
Verzagen
Von ewiger Liebe

Interval

Duparc
Extase
L’invitation au voyage
Chanson triste

Rebecca Clarke
The lost nightingale

John Ireland
Earth’s call

Frank Bridge
Come to me in my dreams

Ernest John Moeran
Twilight

Ivor Gurney
Thou didst delight my eyes
Sleep

Benjamin Britten
Sephestia’s lullaby

Mahler
Urlicht
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

Festival Closing Recital - Kathleen's Songbook: Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton
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