Perth Chamber Music continued its hugely successful series of concerts into the New Year with an acclaimed return visit of Perth’s International (Munich, Berlin and now Covent Garden) tenor star Liam Bonthrone. As before, the packed St John’s Kirk heard an impressive set of song celebrating love and life.

The first half limned the loves of Clara and Robert Schumann. First Clara: in Love’s Magic well projected with clear diction from Liam and a decorative, perceptive piano part from pianist Benjamin Mead. More profound was On the Beach: darker, grander, more confident, sounding in fact more like her husband-to-be Robert.

Next the sixteen songs of Robert’s song cycle Dichterliebe (Poet’s Love) from the early ecstasy, through deep pain, to, equally painful, sarcastic disillusionment. Breathless wonder, loss, tears, snarling irony all finely conveyed in Liam’s fine singing – seconded, as in the heart-stopping 13thsong’s postlude by Benjamin Mead’s sensitive pianism.

Devised by Liam himself, the second half was inspired by the music and poetry of Burns and its reflection in art songs. In chapters viewing Burns’ love life Liam had paired Burns with various and varied composers: Musings on First Love with the lyrical Richard Strauss of Heaven’s Messenger; Jean Armour, given two sections, with Schubert, an amazing Burns setting by Ravel, and Muriel Herbert’s Renouncement. Later, Burns I hae a wife o’ my aim and Schumann’s take on that same poem. Between them the passionate Highland Mary (Poulenc) and the more intellectual Agnes Maclehose (Dankworth: Shall I compare thee… and Moffat’s setting of Ae fond kiss). An ending was Strauss wildly operatic, heady Cäcilie – Come and live with me!

A magnificent encore followed in McFee’s setting of My Love is like a red, red rose. A brilliant, beautifully sung and played concert – adding laurels to both artists.

Ian Stuart Hunter