At the age of 24, Théo Ould became the first accordionist to be nominated as a Newly Discovered Talent at the 2023 Victoires de la Musique Classique awards. “The Stromae of the accordion” (Le Figaro) began his musical education at the Marseille Conservatoire at the age of 6 and his affinity for the accordion was evident right from the start. In the artist’s own words, ‘When I held the accordion between my hands for the first time, I was fascinated both by the sound it made and by the object itself, halfway between a computer keyboard and a spaceship: a machine to play with in every meaning of the word.’

As a soloist, Théo is an exceptional interpreter of music by Bach, Haydn, and Mozart, and his versatility as a performer has also led to important collaborations with leading contemporary composers such as Régis Campo, Tomás Gubitsch and Philippe Hersant. In Autumn 2025, during his USA recital tour, Théo will visit Princeton University to work with leading composer Donnacha Dennehy and 5 emerging composers, further expanding the growing canon of classical accordion music.

In 2023, Théo signed with the prestigious Alpha Classics label and his first solo album, Laterna Magica, received much praise. His much-anticipated upcoming release on Alpha Classics is dedicated to the music of Astor Piazzolla. Featuring string quintet and accordion, it will showcase Théo’s abilities both as a phenomenal musician and a skilful arranger.

British-Irish Soprano Alison Langer is an artist much in demand. Following her much anticipated Royal Ballet and Opera debut as Frasquita in Carmen this season, she will return to Opera Holland Park as Violetta in La Traviata. Recent highlights include her role debut as Nedda in Pagliacci for Opera Holland Park, described as ‘sparkly and vulnerable in equal measure’ and Mozart’s C Minor Mass with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alison has a close relationship with Opera Holland Park where highlights have included Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Micaëla in Carmen and Gilda in Rigoletto. For Opera North she has performed Violetta in La traviata and Micaëla in Carmen. Elsewhere she has performed Countess in Le nozze di Figaro and Adina in L'elisir d'amore (Waterperry Opera); Musetta in La bohéme (Iford Arts) and Bridesmaid in Le nozze di Figaro (Glyndebourne). She made her television debut on ITV's popular series Victoria, performing as the opera singer Jenny Lind and also performed Young Heidi in Follies for the National Theatre, which was broadcast nationwide in cinemas.

On the concert platform highlights include Mozart's C Minor Mass (Bergen) and Mozart’s Requiem at St Martin in the Fields. Additionally, Alison has performed in leading concert halls such as Buxton Opera House‚ Barbican Centre‚ Birmingham’s Symphony Hall‚ Queen Elizabeth Hall‚ Royal Albert Hall‚ the House of Lords and the Ritz. Alison is grateful to be the recipient of a Richard Angas Memorial Award.

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
An den Mond , Op. 57 No. 3, D. 193
Winterreise, Op. 89 i. Güte Nacht

Antonin Dvorak (1841–1904)
Rusalka, B. 203, Op. 114
Act 1: Song to the Moon

Zigeunerlieder, Op. 55 i. Mein Lied ertönt
Mein Lied ertönt

Reynaldo Hahn (1874–1947)
7 Chansons Grises v. L’heure exquise
v. L’heure exquise

Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
La courte paille (FP 178)
i. Le sommeil
iii. Le reine de cœur
iv. Ba, be, bi, bo, bu
vii. Lune d’avril

Jules Massenet (1842–1912)
Nuit d’Espagne

Vladislav Zolotarev (1942–1975)
Sonata No. 3 iv. Allegro vivace con anima (Finale)


Interval


Donnacha M. Dennehy (b. 1970)
Music Network commission – title tbc

Samuel Barber (1910–1981)
Four Songs, Op. 13 iii. Sure on this Shining Night
A Slumber Song of the Madonna

Ilse Weber (1903-1944)
Wiegala

Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
Cabaret Songs i. Tell me the Truth about Love

Francis Poulenc
Les chemins de l’amour

Kurt Weill (1900–1950)
Nanna’s Lied
Schickelgruber
Buddy on the Nightshift
Speak Low
Mack the Knife (Threepenny Opera)