Venus & Adonis is the premiere recording of the eponymous song cycle by Billboard-chart- ing composer Rodrigo Ruiz. Released to celebrate William Shakespeare’s 460th anniversa- ry, this album is a tribute to the poet’s unmatched inspiration. When the composition was

finished in 2020, Venus & Adonis became the first song cycle known to be written by a Mex- ican composer, as well as the only known song cycle (in English or otherwise) set entirely to

Shakespeare’s texts. Despite the newness of the cycle, the music lacks no lyricism and will gladden singers, pianists, artistic directors and all those longing to perform and programme such lyrical and well-crafted music. These seventeen songs, performed by British duo Grace

Davidson (soprano) and George Herbert (piano), exemplify the enormous variety of expres- sion that Ruiz is able to conjure in his writing, making of Venus & Adonis a truly exciting and

refreshing addition to the art song tradition - one that will touch audiences and musicians alike.