Sunday Classical
Take Wing!
Songs About Birds
Sunday 8th February 2026, 2:30pm
Take Wing! Songs about birds for tenor and piano Tenor Nicholas Hurndall Smith and pianist Jen Hartley have produced an exciting new recital programme with a collection of songs by 18 different composers, all of whom were inspired to set texts with birds at the heart of the poetry, each in their own unique way, and in five different languages.
From Purcell and Tippett to Britten, Schubert and Brahms, the cast of birds includes the swan, nightingale, crow, pigeon and cuckoo with the wagtail, swallow and even the chicken making an appearance.
Nicholas Hurndall Smith is a classical singer, conductor, singing teacher, expedition climber, mountain leader and rock-climbing instructor. Born in Hertfordshire, he is married with two daughters and based in Kendal. Throughout his career he has sung worldwide with the solo voice ensemble I Fagiolini, as well as appearing in opera and oratorio, and increasingly as a recitalist. He is Director of Music at Lancaster Priory.
Jen Hartley is a teacher, pianist and composer. She read Music at Cambridge University and completed a PhD at the RNCM. She enjoys working as an accompanist and directing choirs, and is currently the Associate Composer for Cumbria Opera Group and teaches at Chethams School of Music.
