My Heart Swims in Blood

The evening is built around J.S. Bach’s cantata Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, a work of intense personal devotion that moves from heavy sorrow to a sense of spiritual peace. You will hear the solo mezzo-soprano voice navigating intricate lines that describe a journey of penance. Surrounding this Baroque centrepiece are three contemporary additions commissioned specifically by the ensemble for this event. These include a new piece inspired by the seventeenth-century fantasias of Matthew Locke and two further premieres. The sequence is designed to bridge the gap between historical tradition and modern composition. Listen for the way the strings respond to the vocal melodies in the Bach, and how the newer textures reflect or challenge the older musical language. The programme creates a continuous narrative arc, allowing the textures of the period instruments to interact with current compositional styles in a single, uninterrupted flow of sound.

The performance features FIGURE under the direction of Frederick Waxman. This London-based ensemble is known for its flexible approach to programming, often blending historical works with contemporary perspectives. They frequently perform in intimate city spaces, bringing a sense of immediacy to their interpretations. Joining them is mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean, a soloist recognised for her versatility across both early music and modern repertoire. Her ability to convey complex emotional states makes her well-suited to the demands of the solo Bach cantata and the newly commissioned works presented here.

This performance takes place at LSO St Luke’s in London and lasts approximately ninety minutes. As the programme consists of a single cantata alongside several new works, it provides a focused and manageable experience for those new to classical concerts or looking for a shorter evening. The venue, a converted eighteenth-century church, offers an acoustic that complements both the Baroque and modern instrumentation. There is no dress code for this event, and the total duration includes the full sequence of commissions and the central Bach work.