HE IS one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of our time, with a formidable back catalogue – and now a knighthood.

On Thursday, June 25, the Grammy, Brit and Ivor Novello-winning artist, who was honoured by the Queen last week, returns to Blenheim Palace to headline the first of its Nocturne shows.

The timing could not be better for Van – who previously played at the palace in 2004, when a series of concerts were last held at the Great Court of the Woodstock palace. Earlier this year he released his 35th studio album. But while most previous efforts have focused on his own abilities as a recording artist, this one is different.

Duets: Re-Working the Catalogue does exactly what it says.

Van teamed up with a hand-picked selection of guests to record just a handful of his 360 or so songs.

It is not just a trawl through his greatest hits, though, and he consciously steered clear of the big hits like Moondance and Brown Eyed Girl. Instead, with the help of artists like Bobby Womack, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, Taj Mahal, Michael Bublé, Mick Hucknall and Clare Teal, he revisits some lost gems – giving them a fresh shine.

He insisted, where possible, on recording face-to-face with his guests in the studio. “It is not always possible because of calendars, as people are all over the place and very busy, but whenever possible you want to get that,” said Van.

The album starts with Bobby Womack, who died aged 70, last year.

“I am lucky I caught him in time really,” said Van. “He looked pretty good at the time. You wouldn’t have known he was very ill, not visibly anyway.”

Of particular interest to Oxfordshire fans is his collaboration on the album with jazz singer Gregory Porter, who supports him for Nocturne.

“I really like his voice and I like his material,” says Van.

“He is a great songwriter in his own right. I first heard him, singing 1960 What? on the radio several years ago. It’s great.”

The Blenheim show follows a gig by Van up the road at Cornbury Festival, in Great Tew, two years ago. However, he admits he prefers more intimate sets. “I have always liked small gigs,” he says.

“Plus I don’t like travelling. I never have, especially long-distance travelling. I like it even less now because I am tired now. I don’t like booking things way in advance either, because sometimes you get there and you’re not in the frame of mind to do it or too tired.

“I like to be able to book things at short notice as much as possible. I can’t do tours any more, I can’t do it. It’s too exhausting.”

He prefers to have contact with the audience, saying: “It’s about playing and singing rather than performing. It’s more direct and there’s more communication.

“You have to keep it spontaneous, otherwise it gets boring doesn’t it?”

The following Nocturne concert will be at Blenheim on Sunday, June 28, when Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi will perform. He has previously created the music for films such as This is England. Nocturne is a joint venture between events and music management company Neapolitan Live Events and promoter U-Live, a division of Universal Music Group.

Jamie Spencer-Churchill, the 12th Duke of Marlborough, said: “I look forward to once again opening the gates of Blenheim Palace to these brilliant musicians and singers.

“The palace was meant to inspire as a location and the music in the Great Court will bring a new dimension of wonderment to our family’s history.”

For tickets, see nocturnelive.com