A singer with honours makes his debut at La Scala. Ian Bostridge contradicts every commonplace about tenors: he read history and philosophy in Oxford and Cambridge, has written books and regularly collaborates with the Times Literary Supplement. He has also made a programme on Schubert for Channel Four, which was hailed by critics and audience alike.

His tastes in music are some of the most refined: he is internationally recognised as one of the masters of the Lieder genre, whose repertoire goes from Schubert to Henze. On stage he interprets Mozart, Handel, Britten and Janacek’s most beautiful parts for tenors with great class, not to mention Bach’s Cantatas and Passions.

For his first time at La Scala Bostridge has chosen a series of splendid Lieders by Schubert, for which he will be accompanied on the piano by Julius Drake.