For our summer New Artist recital we’re pleased to have one of the rising stars of the Austrian opera circuit, baritone Alexander Puhrer. Born and raised in Vienna, he went on to study in the USA and launched his career there in Tanglewood and Aspen. Back in Europe, he has been a resident soloist at the Graz Opera, singing roles like Papageno, Almaviva, Harlequin in Ariadne and Ned Keene in Peter Grimes. Croatian born pianist Senka Brankovic studied in Vienna and is the recipient of many prizes including prizes for accompaniment for which she is fast making her mark. She is also busy as a soloist in Europe and Japan and has released two CDs. The programme will include works by Strauss, Finzi, Korngold and Charles Griffes, the American pioneer composer influenced by native American themes and oriental sounds.