The diary of one who disappeared | Nicky Spence (tenor)/Joseph Middleton (piano)

Reviewing his 2019 Leeds Lieder recital, the Sunday Times described Nicky Spence as a ‘tenor who combines heroic tone and a poetic sensibility that takes the breath away’. We are thrilled that he returns to Leeds with repertoire he has very much made his own, and with regular duo-partner Joseph Middleton. There is no other work quite like Janácek’s The diary of one who disappeared. Its unorthodox scoring and theatrical features make for an evening that is tender and poignant, urgent and explosive. Janácek takes us from the first flush of young love to self-hatred, doubt and a tortured destiny. Spence has recently released a recording of the work and it is garnering superb reviews. BBC Record Review selected Spence’s version as their Record of the Week and commented that ‘Scottish tenor Nicky Spence brings thrilling ardour and emotional angst to Janácek’s passionate outpourings…the Diary burns with anguish, passion … I love it’.