Toad Lane Concerts: Lucy Farrimond soprano and Duncan Glenday piano

Duncan Glenday and Lucy Farrimond

Rising star soprano Lucy Farrimond delighted the audience at the weekly Toad Lane Concert on Wednesday 5 October with an inspirational recital. The former Chethams’ student is currently studying for a master’s degree at the RNCM as well as winning competitions.

At the age of 21, she made her BBC Proms Solo Debut in Haydn's 'The Creation' at The Royal Albert Hall, with the BBC Philharmonic and BBC Proms Youth Choir - live on BBC Radio 3 and Lucy has been the event manager of the 'National Student Opera Society UK' since March 2020.

Lucy was accompanied at St Mary's by Duncan Glenday, a first class honours double graduate of the RNCM and Manchester University who has performed more than 300 concerts, including over 20 piano concertos. He is a piano tutor at The University of Manchester and runs the Uppermill Summer Music Festivals.

This multi prize-winning pair performed last at Toad Lane Concerts just before the Covid lockdown. Lucy particularly loves the acoustic of St Mary in the Baum, which allows her maturing soprano voice to blossom.

Sea Air by Andre Previn was an evocative opening and later Novello’s We’ll gather Lilacs; both demonstrated her operatic potential. The rest of their programme celebrated British song... in style. An almost endangered species, the superb output of British composers in the twentieth century rivals the celebrated German Lieder of the nineteenth century. Lucy and Duncan brought to life a selection of these gems including Roger Quilter, Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Eric Coates, plus Britten’s settings of two Irish folk songs, ending with Love Went a Riding, with its bracing accompaniment, by Frank Bridge (Britten’s teacher).

Lucy’s singing progress is definitely something to watch out for.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson