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Ligeti Quartet and Lotte Betts-Dean

Part of Festival of Voice

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Join three extraordinary artists and explore the gorgeous alchemy of Thomas Hardy’s beautiful poetry set to music.


Ligeti Quartet
Lotte Betts-Dean mezzo-soprano
James Girling guitar


In this exciting, unique collaboration, one of the UK’s foremost string quartets joins forces with the critically acclaimed singer Lotte Betts-Dean (winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award 2024) and outstanding young guitarist James Girling, to take a walk with Thomas Hardy through songs of the 20th century inspired by his words. The project is the brainchild of composer Arthur Keegan in collaboration with the performers, and it includes new arrangements of beloved songs by Britten and Finzi, alongside beautiful songs – long forgotten and only recently unearthed – composed by quiet luminaries Imogen Holst, Ivor Gurney, Robin Milford and Muriel Herbert. There will also be stunning new music composed by Kerry Andrew and two elegiac sequences by Arthur Keegan.

Programme to include (amongst others)

Gerald Finzi Shortening Days, The Too Short Time
Benjamin Britten At the Railway Station, Upway
Imogen Holst Weathers
Ivor Gurney In the Black Winter Morning
Robin Milford If It’s Ever Spring Again
Muriel Herbert Faintheart in a Railway Train
Derek Holman Midnight on the Great Western
Kerry Andrew The Echo Elf Answers
Arthur Keegan Elegies for Tom (world premiere)

This concert will launch an album of this music recorded with Delphian records for release on 19th July 2024.