PROGRAMME
Poulenc – Huit chansons polonaises, FP69
Ravel – Chants Populaires
Pizzetti – Sera d'inverno | L’annuncio | Il Clefta prigione
Britten – Early one morning | The last rose of summer | The Salley Gardens | The brisk young widow | O Waly, Waly
de Falla – Siete Canciones Populares Españolas

Mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp and pianist Emma Abbate take us on a beautifully-colourful exploration of folk songs from different countries.

Hanna Hipp’s ‘rich-toned, thrillingly ardent singing’ (The Spectator) ensures she is in high demand in the world’s finest opera houses. Hanna will be joined by the ‘amazingly talented pianist’ (Musica) Emma Abbate for this exploration of folk songs from different countries.

Poulenc’s Huit chansons polonaises are a homage to one of his musical heroes, the great Polish composer Chopin. Composed to add variety to his recitals with his partner in music and life Peter Pears, many of Benjamin Britten’s English folk song arrangements have become even better known than their original versions. The lyrical inflection of the Italian language gets first class treatment in Pizzetti’s sensitive settings, while Ravel’s Chants Populaires include some of his most dreamily beautiful music.

Hanna and Emma’s performance, and indeed our May festival, concludes in style with Manuel de Falla’s Seven Spanish Folksongs. Reflecting the diversity of different parts of Spain, they are amongst the composer’s most popular and enduring works.