Richard Rodney Bennett is renowned for his film scores and his jazz performance as much as for his challenging concert works. His film music includes scores for 'Far from the Madding Crowd', 'Murder on the Orient Express' and 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.

Born in Broadstairs, Kent, in 1936, he has lived in New York City since 1979. He received a CBE in 1977, and was knighted in 1998.

This new recording spans five decades of Bennett’s song-writing, cherry-picking some of his most accessible and lyrical pieces, from the melodic Songs Before Sleep, performed by Roderick Williams, to the 1920s dance rhythms of A History of the Thé Dansant, the dramatic and rarely-performed Tom O'Bedlam's Song for tenor and cello (written for Peter Pears) and the enchanting A Garland for Marjory Fleming.

A wonderful recording, stunningly performed by a collection of internationally acclaimed soloists.

Contents:
- A Garland for Marjory Fleming
Sophie Daneman (soprano) / Iain Burnside (piano)

- Songs before Sleep
Roderick Williams (baritone) / Iain Burnside (piano)

- A History of the Thé Dansant
Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano) / Iain Burnside (piano)

- Dream-Songs
Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano) / Iain Burnside (piano)

- Tom O’Bedlam’s Song
Benjamin Hulett (tenor) / Oliver Coates (cello)

- This is the garden
Sophie Daneman (soprano) / Iain Burnside (piano)

- Voyage
Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano) / Iain Burnside (piano)

- A Song at Evening
Sophie Daneman (soprano) / Iain Burnside (piano)