Beth Taylor Recital: L’heure exquise - Royal Scottish National Orchestra

We are invited to experience an intimate journey through the art song tradition, beginning with the spiritual intensity of Beethoven’s Sechs Lieder von Gellert. These six settings of poetry explore themes of faith and mortality, requiring a significant expressive range from the singer. The mood shifts towards the twentieth century with Germaine Tailleferre’s Trois chansons de Jean Tardieu, which offer a distinctively French clarity and wit. You will also hear works by Haydn and Stanford, providing a bridge between the classical and late-romantic periods. Listen for the specific keyboard textures provided by the square piano, which differs in resonance and mechanical action from a modern concert grand. This instrument brings a softer, more domestic scale to the songs of Cécile Chaminade and Arthur Sullivan, allowing for a nuanced balance between the mezzo-soprano and the piano. The sequence highlights how composers from different eras have approached the marriage of text and melody, moving from the profound to the playful.

Mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor is joined by pianist Marcia Hadjimarkos for this recital. As a regular presence on major opera and concert stages, Taylor is noted for her rich tonal quality and communicative depth. Hadjimarkos brings specialist expertise in historical keyboards, ensuring the square piano used in this performance is treated with stylistic accuracy. While these musicians often perform with larger ensembles like the RSNO, this chamber setting allows them to explore a more delicate and personal repertoire. Their collaboration focuses on the subtle interplay required for a diverse programme of European art song.

This performance takes place at the New Auditorium within the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. This venue is a modern space designed for smaller ensembles and recitals, offering clear acoustics for voice and piano. As a chamber event featuring a selection of shorter songs, the evening is well-suited if you are new to lieder or prefer a varied programme over a single long work. There is no formal dress code required. The total running time is not specified, but such recitals typically include a short interval between sets of songs.