These days, Roderick Williams is the undisputed doyen of English song. Our Recording of the Month for March features an enthrallingly curated disc of ditties by Vaughan Williams, his friends, and several of his female pupils, all of them orchestrated by Williams himself.

Clive Paget caught up with the personable British baritone to find out how he earned his enviable reputation, the joys of working with Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé, and the fine art of instrumentation.

I’ll start by asking how you first got into English song?

That’s a good question. My introduction was so gradual I’m not sure I noticed. I think the first songs that a singing teacher would have given me might have been Purcell. It would have been a chance to sing something in my own language, so as a 17- or 18-year-old boy I wouldn’t have to worry about learning German or Italian or whatever.

That can be a stumbling block for anybody. If you’re interested in singing at all, you will be singing art songs from other countries. But to sing in your own language is a great way in. So, at some point, I will have come across the top 10 English songs...