Joanna Harries & Aleksandra Mylek

Joanna Harries mezzo-soprano
Aleksandra Myslek piano

Praised for her “stylish” singing (Opera Magazine) and the “emotional force” (The Times) of her performances, mezzo-soprano Joanna Harries studied at the RNCM and RCS before becoming a young artist at the National Opera Studio.

A keen recitalist, she is a City Music Foundation artist and a Making Music Recommended Artist, and previously a Britten Pears Young Artist and Handel House Talent artist. 2025 saw the launch of her debut song album Letters from Scandinavia with pianist Sholto Kynoch at the Oxford International Song Festival, hailed as “Vivid storytelling…It is meticulously researched and brilliantly executed” (BBC Radio 3).

Joanna has performed as soloist for Mozart’s Requiem with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall and Paul Rissmann’s Through the Looking Glass with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. Opera roles include Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel at Longborough Festival Opera, Suzy/Lolette in Puccini’s La Rondine with Opera Rara and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican and Medoro in Handel’s Orlando with Liberata Collective at Buxton International Festival.

She has previously performed with Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Opera Holland Park, Grange Park Opera and West Green House Opera and is co-founder of SongPath, bringing together music, nature and mental health in outdoor events.

joannaharries.com

Aleksandra Myslek is a pianist recognised for her performances across Europe, Mexico, and China. She began her musical journey with a strong connection to Chopin, earning both national and international prizes, including a special award from the National Fryderyk Chopin Society in Poland. Her education at the Royal Academy of Music included studies with Hamish Milne, Leon Fleisher, Fou Ts’ong, and Ferenc Rados.

Myslek has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Palau de la Música. She was a guest on BBC In Tune and participated in the BBC New Generation Artists concert, accompanying Erika Baikoff; this performance was broadcast on BBC World
Service on New Year’s Day 2026. Her album with Florian Störtz for Delphian Records, featuring works by émigré composer Robert Kahn, was supported by the City Music Foundation.

In addition to her performance career, Myslek works as a répétiteur, collaborating with various opera companies and festivals. She also serves as guest music staff at the Royal Ballet and Opera. Myslek benefited from the Leeds Lieder, Solti Accademia, and Britten Pears
Programmes and has been recognised with several accompanist awards, including the Leach Award, Edith Poulsen Prize, and Brenda Webb Award.

aleksandramyslek.com

Programme – Fantastic Beasts

Strange creatures and things fantastical lurk amongst the trees in this programme of English, French, German & Scandinavian song – from sleepy elves and dangerous sprites to quarrelling birds and tap-dancing mice.

Clarke The Seal Man

Wolf Elfenlied (Mörike Lieder)

Schumann Lorelei

Debussy Chansons de Bilitis
i. La flute de Pan
ii. La Chevelure
iii. Le tombeau des Naiades

Bizet La coccinelle

Rosenthal La Souris d‘Angleterre (Chansons de Monsieur Bleu)

Herbert The Lost Nightingale

Weir The song of the girl ravished away by the fairies in South Uist (Songs from the Exotic)

Stenhammar Jungfru Blond och Jungfru Brunnett Op.26, No.4

Grøndahl Skjærer Op.52, No.6

Gershwin Lorelei

Sponsored by an anonymous donor