Evelyn Strasburger, Charles Wiffen

Benjamin Britten and his American contemporary Samuel Barber wrote many gorgeous, funny and moving songs, all in English, a selection of which soprano Evelyn Strasburger will sing tonight with Charles Wiffen playing the piano.”

Soprano Evelyn Strasburger teams up with pianist Charles Wiffen to perform their programme “Unquiet Heart”, containing some of the most lyrical, funny and moving songs written in English by contemporary composers Samuel Barber and Benjamin Britten, all with eloquent piano accompaniment and words from the poetry of the greatest 20th Century poets. Folk songs, cabaret songs, classical songs, songs about sleeping, songs about gossiping, songs about pianos on holiday, songs about who is sleeping with whom, and of course lots of songs about love - and sometimes just beautiful piano music.

The programme includes the wonderful song cycle from Britten and the poet WH Auden, “On this Island”, a selection from Samuel Barber’s beautiful piano collection “Excursions” and from his fascinating “Hermit Songs”, the words of which were taken from the doodles and scribblings of Irish hermits of the Middle Ages, plus many more.

Evelyn is known locally in the classical music world as a supporter of the best of classical music in performance and education. Evelyn started singing in choirs, then began her own chamber group called the Handful of Singers, and now, with tuition from the opera star Rosa Mannion, performs as a soloist. Charles is Associate Dean of Music and Performing Arts at Bath Spa University, and performs extensively as a solo pianist, accompanist and chamber musician.