Leeds Lieder festival debuts at Leeds Town Hall this weekend

The Leeds Lieder festival is making its Leeds Town Hall debut this weekend - with 20 events across four days.

Festival director Joseph Middleton has devised a Covid-secure festival celebrating the multifaceted art of song.

His artistic vision is for song recitals to continue to remain relevant, and hopes for the event to be a demonstration of an art form open to everyone.

There will be an array of different events across the weekend - ranging from lunchtime concerts, young artists, standard song gigs and spoken word in acted out drama.

There will also be pre concert talks, masterclasses for young people and internationally renowned stars, including Dame Felicity Lott and Sir Thomas Allen.

One of the main events takes place tomorrow (Sunday) evening with a concert that “no one will have ever been to something like before”.

Mr Middleton told the YEP: “Sunday’s big evening concert is going to be split into two halves.

“Usually someone will say what they will sing and play months and months beforehand but this time they’re not going to announce it - like a pop gig.

“Audiences don’t know what they’re coming to hear but songs will be sung by Carolyn Sampson, Roderick Williams and myself.

“There will be a world premier of a new piece by Hannah Kendall which is all about gender in song.