Leeds Lieder to double in scale for its 2023 festival

Leeds Lieder has announced that its 2023 festival will expand from its usual four days to a nine-day run, with a wide range of recitals, masterclasses and events in and around the city of Leeds.

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin, pianist Graham Johnson will give a lecture recital on the song cycle, with performances by tenor Ben Johnson. There are plenty of new works receiving debut outings, including a new song cycle by Errollyn Wallen, performed by Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton, and a newly commissioned ‘Leeds Songbook’, featuring 12 new works by composers from UK conservatoires, who were paired with Leeds-based poets to tell stories about people from the city. 

Janet Baker will also join the festival for a conversation with filmmaker John Bridcut, followed by a screening of Bridcut’s 2019 documentary, Janet Baker: In Her Own Words. As well as the recitals scheduled, there will also be masterclasses with pianist Graham Johnson, Susan Manoff, Thomas Allen, Joan Rogers, Julius Drake and James Garnon. 

Alongside the lunchtime and evening recital programme will be a community performance of Mozart’s Requiem in Leeds Minster, a late-night electroacoustic concert by Lotte Betts-Dean and a musical walking trail in the 900-year-old ruins of Kirkstall Abbey. 

Leeds is the 2023 UK City of Culture. 

Leeds Lieder will run from Friday 9-Saturday 17 June 2023.