The French Song Exchange returns with three recitals: two Wigmore Hall lunchtimes and a performance at the iconic Salle Cortot in Paris. Devised by François Le Roux and Dame Felicity Lott, two great exponents of the mélodie, in collaboration with John Gilhooly, the French Song Exchange offers eight gifted singers a year of coaching from their mentors, culminating in showcase performances.

The second Wigmore Hall lunchtime – which concludes this year's coaching, masterclasses and guidance from two experts of the genre – features some of the best emerging talent in mélodie, providing a glimpse into the next generation of French art song recitalists. The singers perform songs by Lalo, Falla and Viardot as well as favourites by Debussy. We also discover lesser-known composers such as Jean Cras and hear duets by Poulenc and Charles Bordes.

Georgie Malcolm

Soprano Georgie Malcolm has recently completed her postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. She has sung both as a Young Artist at Buxton International Festival and with the chorus of Opera North, and has performed widely as a soloist in concert and oratorio, including her Royal Albert Hall debut as soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with The Really Big Chorus. Georgie won second prize and the Schubert prize at the National Mozart Singing Competition 2022.

Juliette Mey

French mezzo-soproano Juliette Mey, Class of 2022 of Génération Opéra, participated in the Academy of the Festival of Aix-en-Provence 2022 and is a laureate of the 11^th Academy of the Garden of Voices. She began lyrical training at the mastery of the CRR of Toulouse then with Léa Pasquel and is currently studying at the CNSMDP. She debuted this season at the Paris Opera in Mayerling and at TCE in a French-language version of Rossini's La Cenerentola.

Michael Bell

Northern Irish Tenor Michael Bell is a recent graduate of the Royal College of Music and the University of Cambridge. Michael has already appeared with major companies in the UK and Ireland, including Irish National Opera, Garsington Opera and Wexford Festival Opera. Highlights this year include the role of St John in the Apostles for the last night of the Three Choirs Festival and joining Waterperry Festival Opera in the summer. He is a Samling Artist and Musician’s Company Young Artist.

Florian Störtz

German bass Florian Störtz started his career around Trier Cathedral, a stone's throw from France, and has nourished his passion for vocal music as a member of the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, as well as at the Royal Academy of Music where he received the Marjorie Thomas Art of Song Prize. Recent productions include Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen alongside Orchestra VOX and a recital of Kindertotenlieder with pianist Dominika Mak.