Tenor Lawrence Brownlee has won international acclaim for his ‘sweet tone, fastidious pitch and poetic phrasing’ (New Yorker). He returns to the Festival with Scottish pianist and broadcaster Iain Burnside, following their 2019 Queen’s Hall recital, after which ‘no one left the hall without a smile on their face’, according to The Arts Desk.

In the Italian-themed first half, enjoy lyrical love songs by Gaetano Donizetti and Ottorino Respighi, romantic numbers by popular songwriters Luigi Denza and Gabriele Sibella, and Franz Liszt’s impassioned Tre sonetti di Petrarca (Three Petrarch Sonnets), inspired by the composer’s travels in Italy.

Brownlee then turns his focus to American music. Dominick Argento’s tuneful tributes to Tudor poetry pave the way for songs from Genuis Child, Ricky Ian Gordon’s moving setting of poems by Langston Hughes. The concert concludes with songs from Brownlee’s own Rising project, in which he has commissioned leading Black American composers to set powerful poetry from the Harlem Renaissance.   

Multibuy Offer

Elevate your August mornings. Buy tickets for three or more morning concerts at The Queen’s Hall and get 20% off. Excludes top price tickets (price bands A and J) and concessions.

What to expect at The Queen's Hall

Tune out the outside world and let morning recitals encircle you in rich concentration. This is the atmosphere where world-class chamber music thrives. 

Please ensure your phone is turned off during the performance. If you need help, please ask a friendly member of staff.

Supported by Richard Parry