Basically Beethoven: Arcayurek and Lepper | BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert

To the distant beloved … tenor Ilker Arcayürek and pianist Simon Lepper sing songs of love and loss by Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix Mendelssohn and Reynaldo Hahn.

'I shall sing songs that tell of my longing / For song can banish space and time'. Alone on a mountain, a solitary dreamer cries out to their distant beloved – and when Beethoven’s telling the story, you’d better believe that it goes straight to the heart. Beethoven’s songs launch a musical journey from 19th century Germany to belle époque Paris. But the emotions are universal.

'A golden and natural lyric tenor' is how Opera Now described Ilker Arcayurek, and his radiant voice and effortless charisma captivated audiences at the 2015 Cardiff Singer of the World competition. But there are many sides to this remarkable young artist, as this beautifully devised recital with pianist (and song specialist) Simon Lepper demonstrates.