Betty Roe is quite a phenomenon - unknown to most people! Composer of six operas, orchestral works and light music for theater and cabaret, her...

Betty Roe is quite a phenomenon - unknown to most people! Composer of six operas, orchestral works and light music for theater and cabaret, her firs tlove is art-song of which she has produced over 300 examples. Her style is eclectic, ranging from the serious to the comical, displaying a wonderful wit as well as a firm grasp of vocal writing and a way of providing music that seems totally at one with the texts; and at the age of 87, she remains a major force in the music world. In 2011, she was award the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for services to classical music and composition. This program of songs composed over the last 30 years is a delight and features topo English soloists Sarah Leonard and Anne Marie Sheridan, Robin Tritschler and Stephen Varcoe with Nigel Foster, English Song-accompanist extraordinaire at the piano. In several items obbligato French horn, recorder or violin add to the texture.