Devilishly Good Songs

24 October 2023, 7:30pm - 8:45pm

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Please note: Unfortunately Malcolm Martineau has had to withdraw from this concert. We are extremely grateful to Hans Eijsackers for stepping in, and we look forward to welcoming Malcolm for his performances with Miah Persson and Catriona Morison.

The Music When the composer Hugo Wolf discovered the poetry of Eduard Mörike, it sent him into a creative frenzy. Wolf was acutely aware of the masterpieces he was creating, writing that he was ‘working with a thousand horsepower, from early morning into the night without interruption.’ At every turn, he matched Mörike’s poetry, which ranges from the sacred to the profoundly profane. Of one of his favourite songs he wrote, ‘when you hear it, the Devil will take you with pleasure.’

The Artists Thomas Oliemans is one of today's pre-eminent Dutch singers, and in recent years has given numerous recitals at the Festival that have never failed to excite and inspire. He gave an astonishing solo performance of Winterreise at the 2022 Festival, both playing the piano and singing. This year, he relinquishes the keyboard to his compatriot and eminent pianist Hans Eijsackers. As well as being an acclaimed, award-winning pianist and Professor of 'Liedgestaltung' in Düsseldorf, Hans is also co-artistic director of our partner festival in the Netherlands, the International Lied Fest Zeist.

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