Lisette the Singer
It was through her music that Lisette's impact was most widely felt.
We are fortunate that there are hours and hours of recordings, ranging from her earliest efforts as a child all the way through to performances, CD recordings and rehearsals during her career. The links below don't even touch the surface of what survives, but do give a glimpse into this rich vein of music.
I haven't attempted to give a carefully curated anthology of her singing career. Maybe that will happen later. This page is purely a few examples of her work.
Early recordings
A Minstrel's Musicke, also known as Songs From the Taverne - Ballads and Drinking Songs From the Time of Chaucer, was released on CD in 2003 and later on various streaming platforms by the Gift of Music.
Artists on these recordings included: Lisette Wesseling, Michelene Wandor, Matthew Spring, Sharon Lindo, Jon Banks and the Serendipity Ensemble.
Tout Leis Enmi (opens in a new window) is a great example of her work from this collection, as is Foy Porter (opens in a new window).
The album is available on a range of streaming platforms, including:
The album was re-released in 2011 (opens in a new window), and you can also find it on YouTube (opens in a new window).
Choral Concert: Oxford Girls' Choir (A Garden of Music - A Rich Collection of Music From the Medieval World) is an album by Oxford Girls' Choir which featured Serendipity, Lisette Wesseling, Michelene Wandor, Jon Banks, Richard Vendome, David Skinner, Magdala, Martin Souter & Saint Frideswide Monks and Novices.
It is available to purchase on Apple Music (opens in a new window).
One of her personal highlights was being invited back from the UK to New Zealand to be the soprano soloist at a concert of Handel's Gloria and Finzi's In terra pax at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Khyber Pass, Auckland in December 2001. It was the New Zealand premiere of the Finzi piece, and the southern hemisphere premiere of the Handel work.
Settling back in New Zealand
In March 2006, the Hilliard Ensemble performed Arvo Pärt's Passio at the Wellington Festival. They had specifically requested that Lisette be their soloist, renewing a connection they had with her when she was in the UK. The performance was directed by Karen Grylls, with whom Lisette worked on many occasions at this time. We found this recording in her private collection, and due credit is given to everyone who performed that evening. As well as Lisette, these include (among others): TOWER Voices New Zealand, Richard Alexander (bass), Steven James (Counter-Tenor), Helene Pohl (violin), Merran Cooke (oboe), Colin Hemmingsen (bassoon), Rolf Gjelsten (cello), and Douglas Mews (organ).
Note: this is a long recording (around 79 minutes) and may take a while to load.
Later that year, Lisette was soprano soloist on this Auckland performance by Bach Musica of Handel's "Lascia ch'io pianga".
Lisette's long association with the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul meant she frequently collaborated with many of the performers who appeared on Andrew Baldwin's 2009 CD "Tidings". This featured the Choir of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, with Michael Fulcher (Director of Music and Organist), Richard Apperley (Assistant Organist) and Lisette Wesseling (Soprano Soloist).
Lullay My Liking (opens in a new window) is a superb track featuring Lisette.
Music In My Mouth
Released in 2013, this CD was Lisette's first and featured her interpretations of just some of the music she loved. Produced by her friend and colleague Richard Apperley, it featured a host of musicians who she invited to play on it with her. Two tracks included Nulla in mundo pax sincera by Vivaldi and No one is alone by Sondheim.