“In today’s Queen’s Hall concert, Elizabeth Llewellyn’s sumptuous voice and Simon Lepper’s responsive playing carry us through a well-chosen programme of songs in five languages, sung entirely from memory.

Finzi clearly relished Hardy’s odd phraseology and the way he pushes ideas forward through run-on lines.   Elizabeth Llewellyn has also got to know this poetry well, and with fine Lieder technique she tells their stories, and ensures that her breath carries every idea through to its end.

The Strauss Lieder which conclude the first half are impeccably phrased with apparently effortless legato.” - Edinburgh Music Review

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"Throughout Elizabeth Llewellyn’s Edinburgh recital her musical and beguiling calling card was evident. Her deft and reliable ability to leap from lower to higher registers, matching colours, textures and dynamics in such a way that it evokes an intense emotional reaction in the listener is something once experienced, subsequently sought out. A magical thing.

Elizabeth Llewellyn navigated the short intense expressions with aplomb drawing on both her technical mastery and innate storytelling. Her subtle shifts in physicality at the beginning of each song made for a captivating performance." - Thoroughly Good Classical Music

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“...poems by Thomas Hardy are gathered together to form Finzi’s The Earth Outwears. Bringing out the contemplative charm of rustic living, Llewellyn and Lepper gently spun their country tales with warmth and perception. Llewellyn’s capacity for effortless smooth, richly coloured long, lyrical lines was well suited for the more soul-searching character of Chausson, the voice opening up with growing clarity in the upper register in songs of sailing, hummingbirds and butterflies.” - The Scotsman

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