Of central importance to the work of Counterpoise are our new commissions from contemporary composers, around which our programmes are devised. We are grateful to the following for helping to make this possible:

Also supported by: RVW Trust, Britten–Pears Foundation, Holst Foundation and John S. Cohen Foundation.

Counterpoise is proud to be collaborating currently with two distinguished narrators: Eleanor Bron and Johanna Lonsky.

Eleanor Bron is one of the most celebrated and best-loved actresses of her generation. She appreciates every opportunity to work with musicians, narrating pieces such as Façade, Babar, Oral Treason (Kagel), Enoch Arden, Carnival of the Animals (with her own verses) and works by Debussy, Sibelius, Satie and Bernstein. She has written, with John Dankworth, a song cycle: Elizabeth Dreams.

Johanna Lonsky studied at the Vienna Burgtheater and in Munich.  After a successful European career as ensemble member at leading theatres in Austria and Germany, she worked in England for six years and took part in the world première production at the Donmar Warehouse of Nick Whitby’s To The Green Fields Beyond, directed by Sam Mendes. She has also appeared in countless TV productions and has travelled widely as a solo performer.