Liam Bonthrone tenor & Benjamin Mead piano

A Poet’s Love: join us for a captivating journey through the many faces of love as told through the words of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, and echoed in the music of great classical composers.

This intimate recital weaves together some of Burns’ most beloved romantic texts with a rich selection of songs by Robert and Clara Schumann, Muriel Herbert, Richard Strauss, and others. At its heart lies Schumann’s masterpiece Dichterliebe – a song cycle that mirrors Burns’ own lyrical intensity and emotional complexity.

Rather than a simple tribute, this concert explores the love life of Robert Burns with candour and curiosity, painting a portrait of a man whose passions were as powerful as his pen. From playful flirtations to profound heartbreak, from the joyful to the darkly dramatic, the music offers a companionable reflection on the poet’s tumultuous affairs and enduring romantic spirit, documenting four of the most influential women in Burns’ life.

Expect laughter, melancholy, and moments of lyrical beauty – all in celebration of love, language, and the lives behind the words.