Thursday 19th May
Jessica Summers ... soprano
with Jelena Makarova ... piano
Born and raised in Crediton, soprano Jessica Summers has gone on to perform throughout the UK and abroad both on stage and as a recitalist. Her wide repertoire ranges from Bach to Birtwistle and has taken her to venues as diverse as HMP Wandsworth and the Royal Albert Hall. She has sung for English Touring Opera for several seasons as well as for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. An alumnus of the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme where she studied contemporary performance, she has considerable experience in performing Twentieth Century and new music.
Jelena Makarova (piano) is a Russian born Lithuanian pianist. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, She has established a career as a soloist and a chamber musician appearing in recitals and festivals in the UK, Russia, Sweden and Lithuania.
Their varied programme includes songs by Schumann, Ravel and Samuel Barber’s ‘Hermit Songs’. There will also be the opportunity to ‘meet the composer’ as Jessica will be singing a piece especially written for her by leading composer Richard Causton, who will be at the concert to introduce it to us.