Mentor and Muse - new album

Mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately has also begun the season with a major new recording.

Mentor and Muse, released by Albion Records with pianist William Vann, explores the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams alongside works by the women composers and creative figures around him, including Elizabeth Maconchy and Grace Williams.

Among the highlights is the first recording of Grace Williams's Billows of the Sea, while the programme also includes Vaughan Williams's The Water Mill and songs by Maconchy. The album explores the creative relationships and musical networks surrounding Vaughan Williams, offering a wider picture of the composers and voices of his circle.

It is a project very much in keeping with Kitty's longstanding commitment to championing women composers and bringing lesser-known repertoire to new audiences.