CANCELLED: James Newby / Rising Stars

James Newby has skyrocketed into the world of classical singing. Be it in an intimate song recital or on the big opera stage, be as the clown Papageno, the demonic Erlkönig or the desperate Wanderer – prizes and panegyrics have been showered on the 26-year-old British singer, who moves with ease between characters and genres. Only last season, he was the BBC’s »New Generation Artist«, and he has also been a member of the ensemble at the Hanover State Opera since 2019. Now the singer with the »honey-coloured baritone« (The Times) makes his Elbphilharmonie debut at the »Rising Stars« festival in the shape of an atmospheric Lieder recital.

The motto »From the Distant Beloved« refers to the classic constellation of unhappy love that has always supplied the best material for great art, and especially for great Lieder. A good example is Beethoven’s mystery-shrouded cycle »An die ferne Geliebte« (To the Distant Beloved). Another highlight tonight is the premiere of a new work contributed by British composer Judith Bingham.