Duncan Rock (baritone) with Joseph Middleton (piano)

The rapidly rising Australian baritone Duncan Rock presents a programme that reflects on times of war, including songs written by a composer who both fought and died in the Great War, George Butterworth. The centrepiece is Butterworth’s setting of A E Houseman’s A Shropshire Lad with other repertoire by Gerald Finzi and Ned Rorem. Duncan Rock is accompanied by Joseph Middleton recently described by Gramophone magazine as “outstanding - his reputation as a rising star among accompanists is richly deserved”.

Duncan Rock studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and subsequently at the National Opera Studio. Amongst a long list of awards he was the winner of the 2012 Chilcott Award - made to support a ‘major young artist with the potential to make an international impact’; he was a Jerwood Young Artist at the Glyndebourne Festival, and the recipient of 2010 John Christie Award, given by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. The 2017/18 season includes his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, his return to Covent Garden, a new production for the Teatro Réal in Madrid and concert performances of Wonderful Town with the LSO under Sir Simon Rattle.

Generously sponsored by Gay Bradley and John Rank

Duncan Rock (photo: Paul Mitchell) and Joseph Middleton