Lied und Lyrik—this new concert series, conceived by pianist Julius Drake, explores the power of poetry in words and music. Three programs present the works of selected poets, read by renowned actors in the original language, juxtaposed with a wide range of settings by composers from different eras.

For this first evening, tenor Mark Padmore and Welsh actor Paul Rhys join Drake for an exploration of texts by English poets John Donne and Thomas Hardy and their musical adaptions by Benjamin Britten.