One of the UK’s busiest song-pianists, Julius Drake, works with many of today’s leading recitalists and this year he continues his association with Middle Temple Hall in London by curating another season of concerts. He talks to Gramophone’s James Jolly about his work with singers, about the role of the pianist in a song recital and about the programmes he’s presenting this year.

‘Julius Drake and Friends’ at Middle Temple Hall, London starts on January the 23 with a recital with Christine Rice; on July 10, Julius is joined by Iestyn Davies for Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin; Simon Keenlyside appears on October 25 and Ian Bostridge ends the series on November 29. Full details at templemusic.org. 

The piano extracts in the podcast come from Julius Drake’s series of Liszt songs he’s currently undertaking for Hyperion: four instalments are already out with more to come.