Man on a stage playing the piano.

Stories as Brittle as Glass

Tenor Liam Bonthrone and pianist Benjamin Mead perform song cycles by Britten and Cheryl Frances-Hoad, exploring the profound and often uplifting resilience of humanity in times of war.

Two song cycles form the centrepiece of this programme. Movements from Benjamin Britten’s “Who are these children?” are interwoven with songs from Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s “Magic Lantern Tales”, juxtaposing children’s nursery rhymes, riddles and nightmares with adult recollections of life in both World Wars.

Other popular war settings by Butterworth, Ivor Novello, Debussy, Poulenc and Wolf complete this thought-provoking and varied programme.

Benjamin Mead is a former Viola Tunnard Scholar at Britten Pears Arts.

Liam Bonthrone tenor
Benjamin Mead piano

Butterworth:
The lads in their hundreds (2’)
Cheryl Frances-Hoad:
Magic Lantern Tales (23’)
Britten:
Who are these Children? (24’)
Debussy:
Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maison (3’)
Poulenc:
Bleuet (4’)
Wolf:
Der Tambour (3’)
Novello:
Keep the Home Fires Burning (3’)
Man wearing black tie singing on stage.

Liam Bonthrone

Credit: Gabriel Rollinson

Main image: Benjamin Mead

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Britten Weekend

Our annual celebration of Benjamin Britten is back, 7 – 9 November.

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General booking opens on Saturday 16 August at 10am.

Advance booking for members begins on Tuesday 22 July. Find out how becoming a member both supports our work and enables you to enjoy priority booking.

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Autumn & Winter season

Enjoy a warm welcome at Snape Maltings and The Red House, Aldeburgh.

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Dates & times

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