This wonderfully choreographed event gave constant musical satisfaction exceeding the sum of its parts. Essentially a celebration of songs by neglected American composer Richard Hageman (1881–1966), Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg and South African pianist Nico De Villiers explored this beautiful music and discussed connections with similar works by the more celebrated Richard Strauss (1864–1949) and Henri Duparc (1848–1933).

Nico De Villiers and Siobhan Stagg. Photo © Ben Reason

Hageman was born in The Netherlands, beginning his career as a child prodigy pianist in Amsterdam, Brussels and later Paris. He toured the United States and Canada, eventually moving to the U.S. working as an accompanist, repetiteur and conductor in opera, while meeting many of the musical greats of his time. Chiefly renowned as a master of the art song, he also composed opera and chamber music. His time in Hollywood as a film composer included winning an Oscar for the John Ford western Stagecoach in 1939.

The format for this event comprised groups of Hageman’s songs interspersed with examples of the work of his contemporaries Strauss and Duparc. Echoed Voices explored themes of love, memory, and the passing of time. Pianist and...