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In the second of four concerts live from the Oxford Lieder Festival, distinguished alumni of the Â鶹Éç's New Generation Artists scheme perform songs by Vaughan Williams alongside those of his contemporaries, friends and students.

The centrepiece of any celebration of the songs of Vaughan Williams has to be his Songs of Travel. These settings of Robert Louis Stevenson have been immensely popular ever since they were first heard in 1904. Acclaimed British bass baritone Ashley Riches also includes ‘The Sky Above the Roof’, a setting of Paul Verlaine, and songs by Ravel that call to mind Vaughan Williams’ studies in France and the importance of French music to his development as a composer.

Al Ryan presents from the Holywell Music Room.

Ravel: Histoires naturelles
Ravel: Un grand sommeil noir
Nadia Boulanger: Soleils couchants (Une aube affaiblie)
Régine Poldowski: L'heure exquise
Vaughan Williams: The sky above the roof
Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel

Ashley Riches (bass baritone), Anna Tilbrook (piano)