Benson Wilson and Chris White: Somewhere and Anywhere

A unique evening awaits you with opera singer, Benson Wilson and pianist Chris White who have created a bespoke musical response to the ideas of 'somewhere' and 'anywhere', performing for the first time together.

Award-winning New Zealand-born Samoan baritone Benson Wilson is one of today's most promising baritones. Audiences may remember Chris White's remarkable concert in spring 2022 where he transposed Mahler's Tenth Symphony for solo piano.

The programme responds to very different places – the national dances of Poland, Austria and Hungary, the songs of a German miller, and the songs of Samoa and New Zealand. But also, the music of journeys - Liszt's Pilgrimage Years, the Songs of Travel by Vaughan-Williams, and Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer. Together, this special concert explores our relationships to the places in which we live our lives.

Chris White is Head of Opera at the Royal Academy of Music. Benson Wilson was the winner of the 64th Kathleen Ferrier Award and has worked with the English National Opera, Glyndebourne, and Welsh National Opera amongst many others.

Concert Programme

Schubert
Der Wanderer D.489
from "Die Schöne Müllerin" D.795:
#9 Des Müllers Blumen
#11 Mein!
#12 Pause

Piano Dance Medley:
Szymanowski
Mazurka Op.50 No.9
Schubert
Ländler D.790 (selection)
Bartok
"Dance Melodies" from Hungarian Peasant Songs Sz.71

Mahler
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

South Pacific Medley:
Benson Wilson voice and guitar

Liszt
from "Années de Pèlerinage 3":
Jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este
Marche funèbre
Vaughan Williams
from "Songs of Travel":
#1 The Vagabond
#3 The Roadside Fire
#7 Whither Must I Wander
#8 Bright is the Ring of Words

"Benson Wilson has the potential to be one of the voices of the decade with his dark-toned, immensely powerful baritone…"
Seen and Heard International