From Australia to England: Songs of Travel and Belonging
David Greco baritone | Gavin Roberts piano
An evening of storytelling in song, exploring journeys, distance and belonging through English and Australian music.
Australian baritone David Greco brings together songs inspired by travel, landscape and poetry — from the familiar sound world of English song to the voices of Australian composers shaped by that tradition. At the heart of the programme are works that speak directly and humanly, telling stories of movement, home and identity.
Featuring music by English composers Ralph Vaughan Williams, Ivor Gurney, Gerald Finzi and Australian composers influenced by English musical traditions, Peter Sculthorpe, Peggy Granville Hicks, Percy Grainger, Malcolm Williamson, Dorienne Le Gallienne.
Programme
The Blue Mountains from The Pageant of Empire EDWARD ELGAR (1857–1934)
Text: Alfred Noyes (1880–1958)
Tired RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958)
Text: Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
Solveig’s Song DORIAN LE GALIANNE (1915-63)
Text: Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906)
Waltzing Matilda Arranged by THOMAS WOOD (1892–1950)
Summer Schemes from Oh Fair to See GERALD FINZI (1901–1956)
Text: John Clare (1793–1864)
Desire in Spring IVOR GURNEY (1890–1937)
Text: William Morris (1834–1896)
Proud Songsters from Earth and Air and Rain GERALD FINZI (1901–1956)
Text: Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
Let Beauty Awake RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958)
Text: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)
Stars from Night Pieces PETER SCULTHORPE (1929–2014)
The Stars Turn PETER SCULTHORPE (1929–2014)
Text: Judith Wright (1915–2000)
The Infinite Shining Heavens RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958)
Text: Robert Bridges (1844–1930)
The Salley Gardens Ivor Gurney (1890–1937)
Text: W. B. Yeats (1865–1939)
Black Stitchel IVOR GURNEY (1890–1937)
Text: Traditional Scottish ballad
Willow Song PERCY GRAINGER (1882–1961)
Text: William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
The Sprig of Thyme PERCY GRAINGER (1882–1961)
Text: Traditional English folk song
Come Sleep PEGGY GRANVILLE-HICKS (1915–1990)
Text: John Fletcher (1579–1625)
Go, Lovely Rose MALCOLM WILLIAMSON (1931–2003)
Text: Edmund Waller (1606–1687)
It Was a Lover and His Lass from Let Us Garlands Bring
GERALD FINZI (1901–1956)
Text: William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Location
St Giles Cripplegate, EC2Y 8DA