Mara Carlyle is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter whose music has been described by Mojo as “Gorgeous, defiant, hypnotic…witty, touching, adored by everyone from Björk to Jon Snow”. She’s widely recognised as the artist that everyone in the industry wants to see at the moment. On 12 February she performs a programme of unique contemporary arrangements and reworkings of music from Diana Ross to John Dowland. Drawing on all her musical influences – classical, soul, folk and R’n’B – Carlyle recrafts music without limits and across genres. Her programme for CLoSer includes a new version of her commended arrangement of Lauryn Hill’s heartbreak classic ‘Ex-Factor’.
Taking a different angle on Valentine’s, this concert is for those that are less excited about the festival of love. Not everyone gets a date on Valentine’s Day, so as an antidote, City of London Sinfonia are collaborating with Mara and soprano Elin Manahan Thomas for an evening of bittersweet love songs and shared broken hearts, simultaneously challenging Valentine’s tradition and the boundaries of musical genres.
Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas mixes humour with heartbreak, complementing Carlyle’s repertoire with a selection of baroque songs from our spurned historical counterparts, including Purcell’s What can we poor females do and Dido’s Lament and Dowland’s Can she excuse my wrongs and Fine knacks for ladies.
This concert is part of CLS’ informal concert series CLoSer, which is relaxed and informal with non-traditional seating, bean bags and a cash bar open throughout the night, taking place in the atmospheric Village Underground, Shoreditch. CLS also offer £5 tickets for 16-25 year olds. For more information on the concert you can visit: http://bit.ly/1e2kAZC
