[Concerts]

19:30, Firth Hall (Firth Court)

Tickets: £8.50, £6 (concessions-over 60s), £3 (under 26s, students, unwaged)

Duration: 90 minutes + 20 minute interval

Discovering Hanns Eisler…

Born in Leipzig in 1898, Hanns Eisler is one of the most fascinating and controversial composers of the twentieth century, straddling half a century of political and artistic turbulence. A man of strong convictions he dedicated his life to fighting political and social repression, leading to his eventual exile from both Germany and America.

Composed between 1942 and 1943 ‘Das Hollywooder Liederbuch’ is a powerful musical diary of Eisler’s experience of exile and his anxiety towards war-torn Europe. Based on poems by Brecht, Goethe, Shakespeare, Mörike and Hölderlin the work is in a mixture of styles including romantic, twelve-tone and blues, and established Eisler's reputation as one of the great masters of German lieder.

Christopher Maltman (baritone)

Winner of the Lieder Prize at the 1997 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Christopher Maltman is a recitalist of international renown and his many engagements have included appearances in Aldeburgh, Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Milan, New York, Salzburg, San Francisco and Vienna. He is also a regular guest at theWigmore Hall, London. In concert, he has appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras, and Christopher Maltman's recent appearances include the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

With Julius Drake (piano)