American Songbook ll Event

Lucy Goddard (mezzo soprano)

Siwan Rhys (piano)

In An American Songbook II mezzo soprano Lucy Goddard and pianist Siwan Rhys continue their exploration of experimental American song through the works of Charles Ives, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Elliott Carter, Aaron Copland, George Crumb, Barbara Monk Feldman and Gloria Coates. They will also feature unpublished works by Morton Feldman, part of Michael Finnissy’s rarely performed Whitman, and emerging composer Elizabet Dijsktra’s Crumb-esque Deux Têtes dans les Fleurs.

Entrance is FREE. All audience members must book a ticket via the Turner Sims website or in person at their Box Office on Highfield Campus.

(Photo credit: Dimitri Djuric)

Lucy Goddard, mezzo soprano

Mezzo soprano Lucy Goddard is a passionate exponent of contemporary music. She is a core member of EXAUDI, with whom she has recently recorded CDs of music by Carlo Gesualdo, James Weeks and Christopher Fox. Increasingly in demand as a new music soloist, September 2022 sees Lucy perform George Benjamin’s Upon Silence with five viols from the Hathor Consort in Bruges Concertgebouw. In June 2022 she premiered James Weeks’ hour-long Plain Air with duo partner Siwan Rhys as part of Musicon Durham. Lucy performs regularly at the major UK festivals and venues, including BBC Proms, Aldeburgh Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Southbank Centre, as well as touring extensively internationally.

Lucy is also in demand in more traditional fare and has performed as a soloist with groups such as the Academy of Ancient Music and Dunedin Consort, in venues including the Cadogan Hall and Wigmore Hall. In addition to her singing work she conducts the Orlando Chamber Choir and is Assistant Conductor to Ben Parry at major film choir London Voices, with whom she has conducted sessions at Abbey Road for EMI, Decca and Marvel. She graduated with distinction for her Masters at the Royal Academy of Music, having previously read Languages at Cambridge University, and spent a year studying violin at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole.

www.lucygoddard.com

Siwan Rhys, piano

Pianist Siwan Rhys focuses on interpreting and creating new music, working closely with composers, improvisers, and other artists. She plays regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble pianist. She is one half of piano-percussion duo GBSR Duo.

Recent commerical releases include a critically-acclaimed recording of Stockhausen's KONTAKTE, a Barbara Monk Feldman portrait disc, Oliver Leith's good day good day bad day bad day, re-voicings by Mira Calix of John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes, a 70-minute work by Eva-Maria Houben, and piano music by Ryoko Akama.

A regular ensemble pianist, Siwan works with groups such as the London Sinfonietta, Colin Currie Group, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and is a member of new music group Explore Ensemble.