This song-recital bridges the Atlantic with an inspired blend of British, American, and Anglo-American composers. It begins with a selection of some of Elgar’s most beloved songs, followed by a rare performance of Lennox Berkeley’s exquisite Counting the Beats. The programme commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Arthur Bliss, presenting songs that variously sample the cheeky, romantic, and introspective sides of his personality. The 70th birthday of local-composer Ian Venables is also marked with a performance of one of his early song-cycles. The recital concludes with Eric McElroy’s own song-cycle of war-poems by Robert Graves, A Dead Man’s Embers, which has been hailed by Musical Opinion as a ‘masterpiece’ of contemporary song.