Gala concerts tend to be solo affairs – with the odd duet thrown in for good measure. It is rare to have an opportunity to work on the intricacies of singing as a pair – and yet so many famous duets are met with rapturous responses. Whether it’s the Barcarolle from Les Contes d’Hoffmann, the famous Pearl Fishers Duet or the honest simplicity of Humperdinck’s Evening Prayer – something magical happens when two voices intertwine. In this celebration of song and opera we will explore the wealth of repertoire available for pairs of voices. Art Song duets are perhaps the rarest gems in concert, and this event will provide an opportunity to encounter lieder by Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms as well as French chanson by the likes of Massenet and Chausson. We will then turn to triumphs from the opera stage and delight with operatic encounters.
