Fatma Said & Joseph Middleton: Ravel, Obradors, Serrano and Mozart

Fatma Said & Joseph Middleton

A career as an athlete was intended for the Egyptian soprano Fatma Said: her father is an Olympic swimmer, and sports were very important in the family. Until Said discovered music and left for Germany to study at the conservatory, initially against her family's wishes. "Now they are my biggest supporters," she says in an interview. Tonight, Said, accompanied by Joseph Middleton, will sing her favourite song repertoire: works by Ravel, Obradors, Serrano and Mozart.

Ravel, Obradors, Serrano and Mozart

Maurice Ravel, the great French composer of Swiss-Basque descent, found inspiration in the Mediterranean atmosphere. His songs, based on Greek folk melodies, show a deep feeling for life in a warm climate with the blue sea as a backdrop. The lyrics of Obradors and Serrano sound equally warm-blooded, and a selection of old Spanish songs fits in with this. Mozart's classical style provides a beautiful counterpoint to this rich vocal program.