Illuminating Rebecca Clarke
Mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately, together with Nicholas Phan and Anna Tilbrook, co-curates a multi-faceted project celebrating and reintroducing the remarkable English composer Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979) — a trailblazing voice whose songs and chamber works stand among the great treasures of 20th-century music.
Overlooked by musical history for decades, Clarke’s work is now being joyfully rediscovered, her voice resonating with a new generation of performers and audiences. This initiative brings together several exciting projects: a new album of Clarke’s complete songs on Signum Records, a Rebecca Clarke Focus Day at Wigmore Hall, and a new national song competition launched with SWAP’ra, inspiring future generations of singers and pianists to explore her music.
Alongside these, Kitty’s performances, podcasts, masterclasses, radio interviews and an upcoming animated shadow-puppet film of Clarke’s The Seal Man continue to bring Clarke’s passionate, imaginative sound world to new audiences.
A clip from a new documentary about the Rebecca Clarke project. You can see the whole documentary here.
>New Album Rebecca Clarke — Complete Songs
Released on Signum Records (7 November 2025), this double album presents the complete songs of Rebecca Clarke — from her intimate early works to her bold, expressive later songs. Performed by Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Phan (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano), and guest artists Max Baillie, Roderick Williams and Gweneth Ann Rand, this New Album reveals Clarke’s extraordinary range and emotional depth.
Clarke’s songs capture her unmistakable voice — bold harmonies, lyricism, and emotional intensity. They remain among the most expressive works in the 20th-century English song repertoire.
Behind the scenes making the new album.
Wigmore Hall Focus Day
On 8 November 2025, Wigmore Hall presents an entire Rebecca Clarke Focus Day, curated in collaboration with Kitty Whately, Nicholas Phan and Anna Tilbrook. Across multiple concerts, talks and performances, audiences will experience the full range of Clarke’s artistry.
Watch Kitty in conversation with Dr Natasha Loges and Dr Leah Broad — discussing Rebecca Clarke’s life and musical output, and the upcoming Wigmore Hall Focus Day.
The Rebecca Clarke Song Competition (SWAP’ra)
Working with the charity SWAP’ra (which Kitty co-founded), she has launched the Rebecca Clarke Song Competition — a new national platform for professional singers and pianists to explore song repertoire by women composers, with a special focus on the songs of Clarke and her British contemporaries.
Unlike many vocal competitions, there is no upper age limit, inviting mid-career artists and those who would normally be excluded by age restrictions.
Learn more via SWAP’ra: swap-ra.org/rebecca-clarke-song-competition
The Seal Man Animated Film
Kitty has collaborated with animator Jeremy Hamway-Bidgood and producer Dan Norman to create a shadow-puppet film inspired by Clarke’s most famous song, The Seal Man. Created as part of a research project by Kate Guthrie of the University of Bristol — The Everyday Listeners — funded by an AHRC grant, the film will be distributed to schools, encouraging children to create their own video responses.
For more information, visit Dear Maestro .
Watch Kitty performing Clarke’s masterpiece The Seal Man live at Leeds Lieder Festival with Joseph Middleton
Kitty continues to perform Rebecca Clarke’s songs in recitals across the UK and internationally. Follow her on social media for upcoming performances including Wigmore Hall, London Song Festival and LSO St Luke’s (broadcast live on BBC Radio 3).
This ongoing project seeks to bring Rebecca Clarke’s extraordinary voice to the forefront — to ensure her music is performed, recorded and loved by new audiences for generations to come.
In partnership with: Signum Records, Wigmore Hall, The Everyday Listeners Project and SWAP’ra.