27 Oct Press Release: A Red, Red Rose

LES DÉLICES BEGINS 2026 WITH A NEW PROGRAM OF SCOTCH SONGS FEATURING TENOR JAMES REESE. CONCERTS IN CLEVELAND, HUDSON, AND MICHIGAN

CLEVELAND – Chamber music ensemble Les Délices begins 2026 with performances of a new program of Scottish songs, poems, and country dance tunes inspired by the life of poet Robert Burns featuring acclaimed tenor James Reese. Cleveland fans can catch a special performance of A Red, Red Rose at the historic Hermit Club at Hofbräuhaus on January 15th before the show travels to Ann Arbor and Beverly Hills, Michigan January 16 and 17th presented by the Academy of Early Music. The regional tour of A Red, Red Rose concludes with a free performance on Sunday, January 18th at the Hudson Library and Historical Society in Hudson, OH.

Les Délices Blends Folk and Baroque Styles

A Red, Red Rose builds on Les Délices’ recent work creating folk-baroque crossover programs inspired by the music of the Scottish highlands. Arranging this rich repertoire for an ensemble of Baroque instruments requires a historian’s touch; Nagy sometimes draws from three or four different sources of a single song to create LD’s signature arrangements. This performance includes music from the five-volume treasury of Scottish songs known as the “Scots Musical Museum” (1787-1803), to which Robert Burns was a primary contributor of both words and music. Audiences will also enjoy variation sets by Scottish fiddlers James Oswald and William McGibbon and Caledonian Country Dances – all arranged to fit the forces of a traditional Edinburgh dance band with violin, oboe, guitar, and cello.

Les Délices Artistic Director Debra Nagy added, “Burns’ poetry has a visceral quality that still excites us today and Burns also knew (and collected) a huge range of Scottish and Gaelic tunes. Honestly, there’s so much variety in this program – reels and jigs will have folks toe-tapping, tunes like Lochaber and Love is the cause of my mourning will bring tears to the eye, and a few tunes may even inspire the audience to sing along!”

Robert Burns: An Enduring Scottish Hero

Poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) achieved eminence in his lifetime and beyond by embracing and expounding upon traditional Scots culture. Born to a family of poor tenant farmers in Allway, Scotland, Robert published his first poetry collection Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect at the age of 27. The book was a success and the profit enabled Burns’ move to Edinburgh, where he was embraced as a star on the rise. By the time Burns died at age 37, songs had become the main focus of his writing life and his best-remembered poems were written to accompany traditional tunes, including “A Red, Red Rose” and “Auld lang syne,” both of which are featured in A Red, Red Rose.

Taken together, the songs and poems of A Red, Red Rose trace Burns’ biography through a series of nostalgic vignettes, lingering on stories of love, nature, and Burns’ radical politics. These performances are also a great introduction to Burns’ legacy ahead of annual “Burns Day” celebrations on January 25th.

Tenor James Reese: “full of heart”

“Shining” tenor James Reese joins Les Délices for these performances. A prominent Baroque specialist and art song interpreter, Reese’s unique interpretive gifts and sweet sound make him the perfect fit for this intimate and charming program. Says Debra Nagy, “Jimmy is a consummate storyteller and I can wait to hear him sing about Burns’ great love Highland Mary. Jimmy will also recite a few of Burns’ most famous poems including his famously raucous ode Scotch Drink.”

The Hermit Club: A Historic Cleveland Venue

Founded in 1904, The Hermit Club is the nation’s oldest continuously operating private club devoted to fans of the performing arts. While the Hermit Club is a private membership organization, the club is now open to the public for concerts and other events. Now part of the Hofbräuhaus complex in Cleveland’s downtown theater district, the Hermit Club boasts a unique, cozy atmosphere and old-world charm. Drinks will be available at the cash bar.

Tickets for the January 15th performance of A Red, Red Rose at the Hermit Club ($28-$45) can be purchased via Les Délices. 

Additional performances of A Red, Red Rose will be presented by The Academy of Early Music (Michigan) and The Hudson Library and  Historical Society in Hudson, OH. Visit their websites to learn more about these tour appearances. Full details for all upcoming performances of A Red, Red Rose are listed below.

Les Délices maintains a robust schedule of concerts, touring engagements, outreach, and educational programming. Explore all upcoming Les Délices events at lesdelices.org/events

EVENT DETAILS:

A Red, Red Rose: Celebrating Songs & Poetry of the Scottish bard Robert Burns

LIVE PERFORMANCES

Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Hermit Club at the Hofbrauhaus
1550 Chester Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114
This is a ticketed Les Délices event

Friday, January 16, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Northbrook Presbyterian Church
22055 W 14 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI 48025
Presented by the Academy of Early Music

Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 7:30 pm
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
306 N Division St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Presented by the Academy of Early Music

Sunday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Hudson Library & Historical Society
96 Library Street, Hudson, OH, United States
A Free Performance Presented by Hudson Historical Society & Museum