The Oxford International Song Festival, celebrating over 25 years of creative programming, recently featured baritone Benjamin Appl and pianist James Baillieu in their programme, 'Lines of Life'. The performance, held in the 280-year-old Holywell Music Room, saw a full house for Appl's pairing of Schubert lieder with miniatures by György Kurtág.
Appl, a German British baritone, demonstrated his skill in connecting songs that might otherwise clash. His intensive work with Kurtág was highlighted, with Appl recounting spending significant time on individual lines of the composer's pieces. His delivery of these concentrated musical works, many unaccompanied, was described as intently focused.
The programme also included a Schubert selection exploring themes of love, longing, and loss, with Baillieu's accompaniment driving the narrative. Earlier in the evening, Young Artist duo Ellen Mawhinney and Daniel Silcock opened with an aquatic-themed recital, showcasing Mawhinney's soprano and Silcock's piano skills.