Music by Schumann and Britten on 4th June 7pm

The 2017 Knitting Concerts | Sunday 4th June at 7pm

Jamie MacDougall (tenor)
Robert Bridge (piano)

Schumann - Dichterliebe, Op.48
Britten - Four Burns Songs
Britten - A selection of English folksongs

This is a real treat. I first came across Schumann's Dichterliebe in my early twenties and was, and still am, mesmerised by its beauty and emotional depth.

Heine's poems of love glimpsed and lost inspired Schumann to write gorgeous vocal lines and arguably his finest piano writing. Since then I've looked for someone to perform this song cycle with and when Jamie MacDougall suggested it earlier this year I needed no persuading. Jamie is a wonderfully versatile artist who has become the voice and face of classical music in Scotland, fronting the Classics Unwrapped series for BBC Radio Scotland and presenting the Scottish leg of Proms In The Park. But behind this public face is a singer of great sensitivity, at home both in lieder and oratorio as well as folksong and ballad, with an extensive discography and performing partnerships over the years with conductors such as Richard Hickox, Trevor Pinnock and Ivan Fischer and the pianist Malcolm Martineau. I am practising hard. Alongside Dichterliebe Jamie will be singing Britten's setting of four poems by Robert Burns, ranging from the evocative to the utterly incomprehensible, and a selection of Britten's wonderfully clever and immaculately understated settings of English folksongs. This will be a memorable evening.

As ever the concert is free with complimentary wine and soft drinks and you are invited to bring something (not too noisy!) to do whilst you listen if you want to. If you are concerned that you might disturb your neighbours - for example, by clicking knitting needles, or sucking teeth whilst pondering a particularly awkward crossword clue - then please explore the side aisles which are also nearer the wall heaters. Many thanks.

The proceeds from the retiring collection will go to Womb Transplant UK, a remarkable initiative that seeks to help women either born without a womb or who have lost their womb through illness to be able to conceive and carry a child. I am hoping that the pioneering surgeon, J Richard Smith, will say a few words about his work at the concert. You can read more at Womb Transplant UK | Helping women with uterine factor infertility

There is now a dedicated Facebook page at the Putney Knitting Concerts where you can follow the latest news and also post your comments.

May 20, 2017