Songs My Mother Taught Me - Celebrating Women Through Music: A Violin and Piano Recital

“[Shi Mei] burst forth with a bright and brilliant tone in the second theme. Both experienced chamber musicians, Lim and Lee’s sensitivity showed through in the thoughtful exchange of melodic and accompaniment parts, neither overpowering the other. In the second movement Adagio, the spotlight was on the violin with Lee projecting a beautiful long melodic line, once again supported by Lim with carefully placed figurations on the off-beat.” - The Flying Inkpot

“It was not just linguistic cleverness on show here, but also musical cleverness from both the composers and performers. This was an intelligently crafted programme of three masterpieces performed with highly distinguished musicianship.” - The Straits Times

Songs My Mother Taught Me is a captivating recital celebrating the artistry, resilience, and creativity of women through violin and piano. Violinist Lee Shi Mei and pianist Lim Yan are back at the Esplanade Recital Studio as the Lee - Lim Duo, with their first full-length recital since Shi Mei became a mother. The program highlights masterpieces by female composers and beloved classical works, blending timeless beauty with fresh perspectives.

Experience the humour of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Humoreska, the passion of Amy Beach’s Violin Sonata, the elegance of Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne and Cortège, and the beauty of Clara Schumann’s Romances. These are paired with Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 21and Dvořák’s Songs My Mother Taught Me(Kreisler’s arrangement), along with a special arrangement of Charles Ives’s Songs My Mother Taught Me.

Marking their tenth anniversary as a duo, the performance is woven with self-reflection and creativity, offering an inspiring and relatable experience. Join us for an evening honouring female voices, motherhood, and the enduring power of women in music.

This recital is made possible with the kind support of the National Arts Council.