“A fully-fledged, week-long festival in Australia that is dedicated to art song.” This is the single-minded ambition of Australian soprano Alexandra Flood, who launches the inaugural Queensland Art Song Festival in Brisbane this month.

Speaking to Limelight from her base in Vienna, where she sings with the Vienna Volksoper, Flood explains in the beautifully modulated speaking voice of a singer how this festival will gather elite Australian and international artists to present, perform and discuss the best in art song and its practice, as well as deliver masterclasses and provide career guidance to students. 

Alexandra Flood in a purple sequined dress, smiling and leaning against a tree.

Alexandra Flood. Photo supplied

Presented in association with the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, the impressive schedule includes German baritone Benjamin Appl,  who will present a Best of Schubert recital with pianist and Artistic Director of the Oxford Lieder Festival Sholto Kynoch. The pair will also lead a recital by the participants in the masterclass series.

Flood will perform with Kynoch in a concert called Lovesick, featuring music by Schubert, Schumann and Aribert Reimann. Australian tenor Andrew Goodwin and pianist Daniel de Borah will...