International opera stars launch London's newest classical song series held in the intimate space of the "Jewel of the Strand", St Mary le Strand. These five recitals will cover a broad spectrum of composers, from Scottish folksongs, Vaughan Williams songs of Travel, Schubert lieder and Rossini's Cat Duet to a tribute to Rachmaninoff's 150th anniversary.
The second concert in the series will feature an exquisite selection songs as selected by our performer, Sam Young, who is also the recipient of the Strand Young Artist Award this season.
Sam Young - Sam is a British operatic baritone, currently based in Wiltshire. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he was awarded the Chartered Surveyors Vocal Prize, and previously graduated from Bath Spa University. In opera, Sam has worked regularly over the years with the chorus at Glyndebourne, and will soon be making his debut with the chorus at English National Opera in their upcoming production of Britten’s Peter Grimes. Sam has appeared as a soloist in concerts across the UK, Europe and China. In 2019, he performed as part of Downton Abbey Live with the Chamber Orchestra of London at Highclere Castle, and again with the City Lights Symphony Orchestra at KKL Luzern, Switzerland. Other solo concert and oratorio credits include Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem; Handel’s Messiah; and many more.
Annabel Thwaite - Recognised as one of the most versatile and charismatic pianists, Annabel has won all the major accompanying prizes, including the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier, Gold Medal, and Richard Tauber Piano Prizes. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, David Kempster, “Only Men Aloud!, the Michael Clark Company and Ensemble Midtvest. As a Soloist, Chamber musician and regularly collaborating with Sir Bryn Terfel, she has toured and performed in many countries, including the USA at Carnegie Hall and Queens College, Walter Hall and Koerner Hall in Canada, France, Italy, Sweden and Slovenia, and in England, concertos at the Birmingham Symphony Hall and Imperial College, London.