Songs of a Fairy-Tale Princess

Sunday Afternoon Recitals, in collaboration with Trinity College, Oxford

Both delightful and impassioned, this recital will include excerpts from Szymanowski’s Songs of a Fairy-Tale Princess and songs and arias from other wonderful stories, such as Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and the much-loved Song to the Moon from Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák.

Maltese Soprano, Malta Airport Foundation Ambassador and BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation Scholar Nicola Said has an active international career on the operatic and concert stage. She made her ENO debut in Jake Heggie’s It’s a Wonderful Life, stepping in as cover; and has recently covered Zerbinetta in Opera North’s Ariadne auf Naxos. Nicola sang the role of Mimì in La Bohème in London, and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor in France.

Pianist Maya Irgalina has played with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Belarusian Opera House Orchestra. She was selected as a Britten-Pears Young Artist and featured in Semyon Bychkov’s project with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Winner of several competitions, Maya has performed internationally with the UK highlights including Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Coming to Oxford from my time as artistic director at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, it is always a joy to be presenting and supporting young talent.  It is a privilege to have known many of these exceptional performers as they progressed in their careers; and it is even more a delight to be presenting these Sunday lunchtime recitals together with Trinity College, Oxford – a College which shares our values on education and the arts, and on making a positive impact on the world.  Dr Michelle Castelletti, Director: Oxford Festival of the Arts

Our inaugural Events at Trinity programme has been introducing new audiences to Trinity College for public talks and recitals since October. So I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to invite even more visitors through our new partnership with the Oxford Festival of the Arts. Together we will present 3 Sunday matinee concerts this July of young up and coming artists and ensembles in the stunning new de Jager Auditorium. We look forward to welcoming you to Trinity.  Andrew Miller, MBE, Consultant Creative Director, Trinity College