St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5EB. Doors open 3.30pm. Refreshments.

Tickets: £18 / £9 under 25s

Programme

Erich Korngold:  Liebesbriefchen, Schneeglöckchen, Sterbelied                             

Sergei Rachmaninoff:  Lilacs Op. 21, No. 5                                                                                             

Sergei Rachmaninoff:  At my window Op. 26, No. 10                                                                        

Frédéric Chopin:  Mazurkas Op. 24, Nos. 2 and 4                                                                               

Edvard Greig:  Zur Rosenzeit Op. 48, No. 5                                                                               

Edvard Greig:  Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: IV.  Solveig’s song                

Kaijo Saariho:  Leino Songs                                                                                                

Arnold Schoenberg:  4 Lieder, Op. 2, Nos. 1 and 2                                                                             

Alberto Ginastera:  Danzas Argentinas No. 2                                                                         

Antonín Leopold Dvořák:   Gypsy songs Op. 55, Nos. 1, 3 and 4

Kurt Weill:  Youkali                   

Many of the composers in this programme ended up in the United States as exiles and émigrés or travelled there as part of their professional life. Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Arnold Schoenberg and Kurt Weill all experienced exile and emigration due to Nazi persecution in Europe and they all ultimately sought refuge in the United States. Those who fled to Hollywood, such as Korngold, significantly shaped the sound of early Hollywood film music. Another émigré to the United States was Sergei Rachmaninoff who was forced to flee Russia after the 1917 Russian Revolution. His life as an émigré reflects a struggle to reconcile his Russian identity with American culture and his music often carries the weight of longing for his homeland. Antonín Dvořák was a composer who was invited to America, rather than emigrating there, with the goal of developing an American school of composition.  His work there drew inspiration from the spirituals and melodies of American culture but reflected his immigrant status and longing for his native Bohemia.

In the latter part of his life, Frédéric Chopin moved to Paris to further his musical career but was effectively exiled there due to the political climate in Poland and the failed November Uprising against Russian rule. The sense of nostalgia and displacement is something that can be found in the work of many exiled composers and although not an exile or émigré, we recognise this feeling in the later work of Finnish composer, Kaija Saariaho who was based in Paris.  Alberto Ginastera, although he travelled and lived abroad for periods in Europe and the United States, maintained a strong connection with his native Argentina.

Praised for her ‘pure and vibrant’ timbre (Olyrix), British soprano ALYSIA HANSHAW was a member of the 2023-25 Opera Studio at the Opéra National du Rhin. Previously performed roles include Solveig (Peer Gynt), Armida (Rinaldo), Nerea (Polifemo), Ombre d’une vierge (Guercoeur), La Princesse (L’enfant et les sortilèges) and the Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel). Highlights from her concert work include Les Noces by Stravinsky with the Opéra du Rhin and Ballet, Mozart Mass in C minor with the Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse, Concert des Deux Rives with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and Mahler Symphony No.4 with the Orchestra of the Royal College of Music. She made her Glyndebourne Festival Opera debut in 2023 as Sœur Antoine in Dialogues des Carmélitesand in the ensemble of L’elisir d’amore. 

An experienced song performer, Alysia has appeared in recitals throughout the Alsace region of France at the Opéra du Rhin, Château Pourtalès, Théâtre Municipal de Colmar, Comédie de l’Est, La Filature and Théâtre de la Sinne. As a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme Artist, she has given solo recitals throughout the UK with her regular recital partner Jay Carroll. She was also a member of the RCM’s Song Plus scheme with whom she performed recitals for International Women’s Day and an American song collaboration with the Juilliard School, curated by Simon Lepper.

Alysia is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.

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Manchester-born pianist JAY CARROLL graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied with both Sally Ann Macleod and Kathryn Stott. During his time in the College he won both the Nossek Trio Prize and Cronshaw/Brownson Song Prize, and in 2021 he won Best Accompanist in the Courtney Kenny Song Prize.

The versatility of collaborative piano and the dynamic nature of ensemble playing have spurred him forward throughout his career. During his time in Trio Déanach he performed in the RNCM Chamber Music Festival and enjoyed studying with internationally-acclaimed chamber groups such as Trio Gaspard and Trio Karenine. His piano-violin duo playing highlights include performing at the Royal Dublin Society and Blackwater Valley Opera Festival with Mollie Wrafter (Feis Ceoil winner 2022) and with his piano duo (The Denore Duo) he has enjoyed performing in local piano festivals throughout Spain.

Jay’s love of collaboration has extended beyond classical music and into the realms of jazz and contemporary music. In 2022 he was assistant Musical Director for the UK premiere of the cabaret ‘It’s In The Air!’ and in the same year worked under composer Harvey Brough as the rehearsal pianist for the new opera The Hive.