Simon Keenlyside (baritone) & Malcolm Martineau (piano) at RNCM

Simon Keenlyside (baritone) & Malcolm Martineau (piano) at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 6 March 2023, from £9.00 - Book now

After leaving the RNCM in the late 80’s Simon Keenlyside’s career went from strength to strength. Beginning his professional life playing transvestites in Hamburg cabarets and counts on the opera stage, he soon went on to perform with ENO, Welsh National Opera, Scottish National Opera, San Francisco, Geneva, Paris, Sydney and the New York Metropolitan, to name but a few. This spring, Simon Keenlyside is returning to where his operatic training first started with a programme of art song and lieder to be performed with pianist Malcolm Martineau.

Martineau is seen as one of the leading collaborative pianist of his time. He’s worked with an impressive roster of singers including Dame Janet Baker, Olaf Bär, Barbara Bonney, Ian Bostridge, Angela Gheorghiu, Susan Graham and Bryn Terfel. He’s performed in the world’s greatest opera houses, was given an honorary doctorate from the RSC and has previously been the artistic Director of Leeds Lieder Festival.

The pair have been performing and collaborating with each other for years, recording and programming recitals in multiple guises for different opera companies and venues.

the fire and passion of German romantics and the more ethereal realms of French impressionism

Their programme begins with a collection of classics from Schubert and Schumann before venturing into the more romantic territory of Brahms via Hugo Wolf. Halfway through this journey the duo move away from the fire and passion of German romantics and into the more ethereal realms of French impressionism. They finish the recital with a collection of songs from the hugely popular composers Debussy, Fauré and Poulenc.

Only in a year as significant as the 50th anniversary of the college would a performance with these two giants of western art song take place. Be sure to check out the other events in RNCM’s 50th anniversary season featuring Manchester collective and Stephen Hough among other notable alumni from the college.