‘Traces of Love’
Claude Debussy – Trois Chansons de Bilitis
I. La flûte de Pan,
II. La chevelure,
III. Le tombeau des Naïades
Edward Elgar – Pleading
Franz Schubert – Winterreise XVI. Letzte Hoffnung
Frank Bridge – Come to Me in My Dreams
Samuel Barber – Hermit Songs II. Church Bell at Night
Rebecca Clarke – The Seal Man
Johannes Brahms – Sechs Lieder, Op. 86 II. Feldeinsamkeit
Robert Schumann – Dichterliebe III. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Silent Noon
Kurt Weill – I’m a Stranger Here Myself
William Bolcom – Waitin
Kurt Weill – Je ne t’aime pas
Madeleine Dring – Song of a Nightclub Proprietress
Kurt Weill – It Never Was You
Benjamin Britten – Tell Me the Truth About Love
Traces of Love explores love not as a single story, but as something remembered, imagined, longed for, and occasionally questioned. The first half of the programme moves through French mélodie, English song, and German Lieder, tracing intimacy in many forms; from the sensual, impressionistic world of Debussy’s Chansons de Bilitis, to the heightened emotional clarity of Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann. Alongside well-loved repertoire, Rebecca Clarke’s The Seal Man offers a darker, mythic perspective on desire and transformation, bringing a striking dramatic contrast to the set.
After the interval, the programme shifts in mood and colour. Still firmly rooted in the classical song tradition, the second half turns to 20th-century repertoire that is lighter in tone, sharper in wit, and more conversational in style. Songs by Britten, Weill, Bolcom, and Dring explore love with irony, playfulness, and emotional directness; moving from tenderness to satire, and from longing to knowing humour.
Together, both halves form a portrait of love in all its contradictions: serious and absurd, intimate and theatrical, fleeting and constant.
Sophie Davis is an enthusiastic mezzo-soprano from London with a passion for classical performance. Having studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, she graduated with a first-class degree under the guidance of Sarah Pring. Her enthusiasm for Art Song is evident in her performances to date, including a finalist position in the Courtney Kenny Competition.
Sophie furthers her artistic development under the tutelage of Sarah Tynan and is particularly inspired by performing thought-provoking contemporary classical works. She curates recital programmes that weave together music and spoken word, creating engaging and meaningful experiences for her audiences.
Anna Reiley is a pianist and accompanist from Hawaiʻi, now based in London. With a strong passion for collaborative music-making, she enjoys working closely with vocalists, instrumentalists, chamber ensembles, and choirs.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Concordia University, Irvine. Following her undergraduate studies, Anna worked extensively as a choral accompanist and organist, during which time she performed in distinguished venues including the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Chicago Symphony Hall. Anna later moved to London to pursue and complete a Master’s degree in Performance (Piano Accompaniment) at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she studied with Eugene Asti and Pamela Lidiard.
We will present 4 concerts a year, each offered on two consecutive evenings.
Sundays – a concert, dinner and wine event, with canapés and wine to be served in the interval, and the concert to be followed by a three-course meal with paired wines. A few seats are available for the concert only on Sunday as well.
Mondays – concert only, with a glass of wine in the interval included in the ticket price.
Timings will be as follows:
Sunday evenings:
Doors 5:30pm Concert start 6:00pm Dinner 8:00pm approx.
Monday evenings:
Doors 7:00pm Concert start 7:30pm
Pricing:
Sunday evening concert, dinner and wine – £170.00 per person (or concert only £35)
Monday evening concert – £35.00 per person
Classical Recital Menu
Sunday 19th April Evening Menu
Sunday evening concert, dinner and wine package
£170.00 per person
Timings will be as follows:
Doors 5:30pm Concert start 6:00pm Dinner 8:00pm approx.
CANAPES
Spenwood cheese gougère
Truffled Brandade, bruschetta, basil and olive
Our sourdough focaccia
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FIRST COURSE
Devon duck, parsnip and coconut purée, Sansho pepper sauce
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MAIN COURSE
Cornish cod, walnuts, razor clams, smoked trout roe, yoghurt and Douglas Fir sauce
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DESERT
Warm treacle and ginger cake, sweet woodruff sabayon, grué de cacao, vanilla ice cream
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PETIT FOURS
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Food Allergies and Intolerances: before you order your food and drinks please speak to our staff if you have an allergy and want to know about our ingredients
Some dishes may contain traces of nuts and game dishes may contain shot
Prices include VAT. Service not included, apart from tables of 6 or more where a discretionary 12.5% service charge will be added