Hanover Square Lunchtime Concert: Spectrum of Devotion

Today's Hanover Square Lunchtime Concert is given by Abbie Ward, mezzo-soprano and Ben Cook, piano. They will be performing the following programme, Spectrum of Devotion, comprising:

Maude Valérie White - How do I love thee

Maude Valérie White - So we'll go no more a'roving

Richard Hageman - At the well

Rebecca Clarke - The seal man

Richard Hageman - Do not go, my love

Paul Carr -Three love songs: 'Devotion', 'Now sleeps the crimson petal', 'I am not yours'

Ivor Gurney - Desire in spring

Sven Lekberg - The spring and the fall

Britten - Johnny

Admission, as ever, is free with a retiring collection.

Ben Cook is an accompanist from London. He graduated with a Masters degree and Concert Recital Diploma in Piano Accompaniment from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Pamela Lidiard and Caroline Palmer.

Recent collaborations have included recitals with singers Mark Padmore and Roderick Williams. Ben also enjoys close relationships with the St Endellion festivals in Cornwall, London Musical Theatre Orchestra and Côr y Boro (the Borough Welsh Choir).

Ben particularly enjoys the English song repertoire and accompanied the winner of the GSMD English Song Prize 2024.

After initially graduating from Guildhall with a Bachelors degree in Stage Management, Ben worked as a stage manager for the English National Opera, Royal Opera House, Garsington Opera, English Touring Opera and BBC orchestras.