lagrimosaFrances Pappas, voice and Laura Young, guitar have each made a name for herself as a soloist and now they have decided to realize their dream of forming a duo with the other: Lagrimosa Beltà.  Their international acclaim and success as soloists is partly founded on their extraordinary expressiveness, an expressiveness that reaches sublime levels when applied to their new and sensuous repertoire.

Integral beauty of songs

Frances and Laura also share a deep and life-long musical devotion to folk melodies and poetry that are rooted in traditions and histories from around the world.  By combining these orally transmitted songs with provocative arrangements by leading composers, they have created a place for themselves in the classical recital program. The result is a repertoire which, on one level, is beautiful, direct and emotionally immediate and, on another, provides the listener with settings that are profound, dynamic and frequently introspective.  The arrangements have succeeded in preserving the integral beauty of the songs while creating a new musical context.

Because of Frances and Laura’s passionate commitment to the music and the sincerity of their presentation, they are able to create a rare intimacy with the audience. The performances are spellbinding and yet suffused with a grace that stems from the artists’ warm, vibrant musical and personal performance.