Baltimore Lieder Weekend

The art song genre contains some of classical music's greatest treasures, yet it is also prone to misunderstanding. Established in 2010, the Baltimore Lieder Weekend is a boutique, European-style art song festival which presents this extraordinary repertoire in a fresh and approachable manner. Years past have focused on topics such as Johannes Brahms, the "Birth of the Lied", Cabaret, and Wagner in France, and luminaries John Shirley-Quirk, Deen Larsen, Michael Musgrave, Gerard McBurney and Susan Youens have been special guests. ​ In 2017 we focused on "New American Song: Unusual Suspects," an attempt to reach beyond the usual crop of composers who specialize in the form, and who seem to dominate programs on art song series. In 2019, we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a party theme, including a complete performance of Hugo Wolf's exquisite "Italienisches Liederbuch." This year, we are privileged to present soprano Joelle Lamarre in powerful works by diverse group of Black American composers. ​ The significance of the Baltimore Lieder Weekend has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and on New Yorker music critic Alex Ross's blog, The Rest is Noise. Our 2011 edition was a "Critic's Pic" in Baltimore City Paper and received praiseworthy advance coverage from Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun.