Page 253 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

Gweneth Ann Rand will present Messiaen's three song cycles at this month's Aldeburgh Festival |
Photo: Christa Holka

Rand is speaking to me on Zoom from her home in London. It’s our first meeting, though I’ve

known her as a staunchly supportive human being online, and watched her song programming
with great interest. Even though we are here to talk about her projects at the Aldeburgh Festival,
which begins on Friday (7 June), she first wants to know about me, asking a simple ‘how are you?’

with a sincerity that makes me quite emotional.

‘I have been known to go up to a director and say “hi, just to let you know that I’m not in the best
place right now, but I'm here and I'm present”,’ Rand admits. Her vulnerability is striking and she is

immediately honest about her experiences of burnout earlier this year, leading to the cancellation
of a Wigmore concert and ENO contract.

A return to the stage for her Festival residency, formed around Messiaen’s three mammoth song
cycles at Aldeburgh, could be a panicked affair. But for Rand, it’s more about a celebration and

support of young artists, reverence for art, as well as processing grief, trauma and connecting
viscerally with an audience.

‘It's such a difficult musical landscape right now,’ Rand states. ‘It's difficult for young singers to be
able to promote themselves because there's no work anywhere. We decided through these

concerts that I would promote and provide a platform for as many of the young artists as possible.’

Rand has been a key part of the opera landscape of the UK, and at Aldeburgh, for years,
especially known for her work within contemporary opera, creative song programmes and