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Sarah Walker presents Dvořák Plus, with music performed by the soprano Ruby Hughes accompanied by the pianist and composer Huw Watkins, recorded at St Mary's Church, Hay-on-Wye, during the 2022 Hay Festival. Their concert begins with a selection of songs by Dvořák, which includes his most popular number, Songs my mother taught me. These are followed by the first concert performance of four Romances by the Russian pianist and composer, Leokadiya Kashperova, who was a favoured interpreter of the works of Glazunov and Balakirev. Kashperova did perform these songs in her own home at private soirees, but this will be their first outing in a public concert setting.

The second part of the concert features music by another composer and pianist, Huw Watkins. Echo was premiered by Ruby Hughes at Carnegie Hall in 2017. It’s the fifth song cycle by Watkins, and sets texts by Dickinson, Rossetti, Yeats, Larkin and Harsent. The concert then ends with two popular settings of folksongs by Benjamin Britten.

Ruby Hughes, soprano
Huw Watkins, piano

Antonín Dvořák: The Forest is quiet all around, Op 55 No 3
Antonín Dvořák: Songs my mother taught me, Op 55 No 4
Antonín Dvořák: So many a heart is as though dead, Op 83 No 2
Antonín Dvořák: In the sweet power of your eyes, Op 83 No 7
Antonín Dvořák: Oh dear soul, the only one, Op 83 No 8

Leokadiya Kashperova: Ich Schaue hinauf, from 12 Romances No 1
Leokadiya Kashperova: Wunsch, from 12 Romances No 4
Leokadiya Kashperova: Herbstwind, from 12 Romances No 5
Leokadiya Kashperova: Reiffrost im Herbst, from 12 Romances No 10

Huw Watkins: Echo

Benjamin Britten: At the mid hour of night
Benjamin Britten: O Waly, Waly

Produced by Luke Whitlock