Beth Taylor & Hamish Brown

Hear evocative musical depictions of iconic female figures from myth, in the Festival debut of Scottish mezzo soprano Beth Taylor.

Scottish mezzo soprano Beth Taylor, praised by the Telegraph for her ‘tender and magnificent’ tone, makes her Festival debut with regular collaborator, pianist Hamish Brown. Their carefully curated recital is inspired by the sea and iconic female figures from myth from the Lorelei to Cassandra and Medusa.

Women composers are especially well represented in this programme. Among the many treats are Ethel Smyth’s atmospheric Three Moods of the Sea, Lili Boulanger’s pensive Reflets, Clara Schumann’s thrilling Die Lorelei and rapt chants by medieval composers Kassia and Hildegard of Bingen. There’s also a rare chance to hear songs from the enigmatic singer-songwriter and activist Connie Converse’s last known work – the haunting Cassandra Cycle.  

Beth Taylor also performs two works specially written for her. Cameron Biles-Liddell’s The Breakers evokes Scottish seascapes, while Stuart MacRae and poet JL Williams look through Medusa’s many eyes to seek the humanity behind the monstrous image.  

0 Stars

Beth Taylor captured that wistful side with her beautifully clear and haunting voice, while the crystalline intricacies of Hamish Brown's flawless piano technique provided the perfect accompaniment.

Edinburgh Music Review


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Programme

Sung in Greek, Latin, French, English, Orcadian, Scots, and German with English surtitles

Full programme

Kassia Pelagia

Smyth Anacreontic Ode 

Boulanger Reflets 

Cameron Biles-Liddell The Breakers 

Traditional Orkney folksong arr. Taylor The Grey Selkie o’ Sule Skerry 

Smyth Three Moods of the Sea 

Hensel Schwanenlied

Converse Excerpts from the ‘Cassandra Cycle’

Wieck-Schumann Die Lorelei

Tailleferre Excerpts from ‘Pancarte pour une Porte d’entrée’  

Stuart Macrae Medusa

Hildegard von Bingen arr. Jodi Goble De Virginibus (Antiphon)

Performers

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  • Beth Taylor
    Mezzo soprano
  • Hamish Brown
    Piano

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