Iffley Music Society, founded in 1996 by the late Rev Canon Dr Michael Bourdeaux, works tirelessly to bring together musicians and audiences from across Oxfordshire for concert series that highlight the exceptional talent the county has to offer. They are particularly keen to showcase young performers at the beginning of their professional careers and strive to offer a diverse range of music from the classical genre. I was delighted to join them as an audience member for their latest concert with baritone George Robarts, accompanied on piano by Francesca Lauri.

As a staunch lover of English Art Song and German Lieder, I was hugely excited by the programme on offer for this afternoon concert in Iffley Church Hall. Curated by Robarts, the ninety-minute performance felt like a stroll through nature with a fond friend. From lilting Clara Schumann to majestic Erich Korngold, the audience was treated to a gorgeous mix of mystical worlds, classic English countryside, and haunting tales of wartime loss. There was a quiet air of anticipation as the audience arrived and took their seats. Robarts began with a short introduction of the concert’s aim and continued to interlude each section with insightful snippets of the composers and brief overviews of each song and their pertinence within the programme.

I was entirely entranced by Robarts. His earnest demeanour and rich baritone vocals brought magic to these works. From his very first note, I was fully committed to traversing the musical landscape with him and happily allowed myself to be led through the sumptuous world he created. His timbre, which was equal parts smooth and fresh, carried the melodies and accompanying lyrics beautifully. I found myself disinterested in following the translations provided for the Lieder as I was so taken by Robarts’ expression and movement that I felt it wasn’t needed. He moved between emotions with a fluidity that I’ve not seen before. From joy to sorrow, childlike glee to ageing pain, it was a masterclass in emoting through song. His choice of song showcased his impressive vocal range, especially the works by Muriel Herbert. Robarts has previously performed her work as part of his audition repertoire and you could see the joy it brought him to bring her art song into a professional concert setting.

Francesca Lauri accompanied on piano with a grace and precision that astounded me. She played each piece with a depth and flow that highlighted Robarts’ voice while allowing the audience to marvel at the accompaniments and her talent on piano. I am always amazed by a pianist who is able to make a new (to them) instrument sing in exactly the way they want. It takes great skill to accompany singers and Lauri has an obvious natural talent for this.

We were notified at the start that Lauri had stepped in with a week’s notice for this performance and I was blown away by the connection that she and Robarts found in that short period of time. I am not sure if Robarts and Lauri had performed together previously but that certainly seemed the case. There was an understanding between the two throughout that made you feel comfortable and confident in their ability to meld their instruments together and create a strong, grounded sound.

While I was familiar with the likes of Schumann, Schubert and Butterworth, I had not heard of Muriel Herbert or Enrich Korngold and was pleasantly surprised by their work. In the programme notes, it mentions that Korngold evolved his work in his latter years and became a well-known Hollywood film composer. I particularly enjoyed the third piece of his that Robarts and Lauri performed - 'Was di mir bist' - and could hear the filmic qualities that he was known for later in life.

Concerts like this are a great way to discover work, and I will definitely be taking these composers with me and adding them to my personal repertoire. As a classically trained singer who has performed many Quilter and Schubert pieces before, it was lovely to hear them again. Die Forelle by Franz Schubert is a piece I know well, and it brought a tear to my eye to hear it again after many years.

I hope I don’t offend, but it seemed I was the youngest audience member (save for the performers themselves) in the Church Hall by at least thirty-five years. I understand that classical music isn’t for everyone; however, it is disheartening to see a lack of young people attending events like this. I implore young people to take the leap and try something new. We are very lucky to live in a city that has hundreds of opportunities available to experience the transformative power of music. If you find yourself with a spare afternoon, I highly recommend perusing the Iffley Music Societies webpage and booking tickets to one of their many offerings. Ticket prices are fair, and if this concert was anything to go by, the standard of music performed is sensational.