Bliss International Song Series

The Bliss International Song Series, run under the auspices of Pembroke College Cambridge, is the leading song recital series in the East of England, founded and directed by Pembroke Bye-Fellow and College Musician, the internationally acclaimed pianist Joseph Middleton. Joseph specializes in the art of song accompaniment and chamber music and is internationally acclaimed as one of the finest musicians in this field. Described in Opera Magazine as ‘the rightful heir to legendary accompanist Gerald Moore’, by BBC Music Magazine as ‘one of the brightest stars in the world of song and Lieder’, he has also been labelled ‘the cream of the new generation’ by The Times. Joseph enjoys recitals with internationally established singers and is a frequent guest at the world's major music centres. Full biography available here.

The series offers a vibrant, year-round programme of concerts devised to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of art song with the world’s leading exponents in the field. Those appearing reads like a who’s who, including Sir Simon Keenlyisde, Dame Sarah Connolly, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Felicity Lott, Ian Bostridge, Angelika Kirchschalger, Wolfgang Holzmair, Roderick Williams, Mark Padmore and Fatma Said to name a few. Recitals take place in Pembroke’s newly refurbished Auditorium, complete with new Steinway.

With Cambridge offering much in the way of world-class choral music-making, the Bliss Series offers concerts that match the choral quality but seek to fill the gap in the Cambridge art song landscape. Associated masterclasses are arranged for the finest students in Cambridge, who take part in the University Lieder Scheme.

Iestyn Davies - Countertenor

Joseph Middleton - piano

Thursday 2 May 2024, 7.30pm, The Auditorium, Pembroke College

Tickets £25 / £5 students/unwaged - click here for tickets

Divine Music

A wealth of music from different traditions exploring the heavens and the divine

Full Programme

WILLIAM CROFT
A Hymn on Divine Musick (realised by Benjamin Britten)

BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Canticle I: My beloved is mine Op. 40

THOMAS ADÈS
Darknesse visible

JOHN DOWLAND
In darkness let me dwell

HELEN GRIME
Harp of the North

GERALD FINZI
Let us garlands bring Op. 18

INTERVAL

CHERYL FRANCES-HOAD
Star Falling

HENRY PURCELL
A Fool's Preferment Z571:
–I'll sail upon the dog-star (realised by Benjamin Britten)

NICO MUHLY
New-Made Tongue
Falling Berceuse

GEORGE BUTTERWORTH
6 Songs from A Shropshire Lad

BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Night Piece (Notturno)

NICO MUHLY
From 4 Traditional Songs:
–A brisk young lad
–The bitter withy

HENRY PURCELL
Now that the sun hath veiled his light (An Evening Hymn on a Ground) Z193 (arranged by Thomas Adès)

“Iestyn Davies is one of the most distinguished countertenors to emerge in the past two decades” – Gramophone Magazine, 2023

After reading Archaeology and Anthropology at St John’s College, Cambridge, Iestyn Davies studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Iestyn has gone on to perform on the world’s leading opera and concert stages and is widely recognised as one of the world’s finest singers, celebrated for the beauty and technical dexterity of his voice and intelligent musicianship.

A celebrated recitalist with repertoire ranging from Dowland to Clapton, he has twice been awarded the Gramophone Recital Award. He is a regular favourite at London’s Wigmore Hall and Kings Place where he has curated residencies. In 2017 he won the Gramophone Baroque Vocal Award and was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his services to Music. He is also the recipient of a Royal Philharmonic Society Award and was nominated for an Olivier Award for his singing role in Farinelli and the King opposite Mark Rylance (premiered at London’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and transferring to the West End and Broadway).

Fri 3rd May - LIEDER SCHEME STUDENTS SHOWCASE

We are pleased to host the University of Cambridge's Lieder Scheme Student Showcase recital on Friday 3rd May. You will have the chance to hear and

support the wonderful 5 Young Artist singer-piano duos performing in recital across the evening.

Where: Pembroke Auditorium
When: 7.30pm (with interval)
Tickets: £5 on the door (card payment only) or FREE for students

RECENT EVENTS 2023/24


5th October - Sir Simon Keenlyside & Joseph Middleton "Winterreise"	1st November - Dame Sarah Connolly, Joseph Middleton and Julius Kiln


19th January -Masterclass given by Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) & Joseph Middleton (piano) with students of the University Lieder Scheme	9th February - Konstantin Krimmel & Joseph Middleton "Die schöne Müllerin"


5th March - Christoph Prégardien and Joseph Middleton

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