steer has written many large-scale acappella choral works, mostly to his own words, several of which have been recorded. other significant pieces include sonnets to orpheus, a cycle of twelve poems by rilke, recorded by frances m lynch – with whom he also recorded his valentine songs and nightsongs, settings of gm hopkins. in 2003 steer’s opera a private passion, about charles dickens and ellen ternan, was recorded at the london opera centre. his most recent one-act opera unexpectedly vacant was recorded in 2013.