An evening of music by two of England’s top composers, Britten and Vaughan Williams, including some rarely performed gems.

The University of Essex Choir is joined by London Mozart Players for this performance.

Described by Vaughan Williams as the favourite of his choral works, Sancta Civitas was completed 100 years ago in 1925. Britten’s World of the Spirit was written for BBC radio in 1938. It was rebroadcast in 1939 and doesn’t appear to have been heard again until 1995 when the BBC made a series about Britten’s music for radio. The programme also includes Britten’s A Hymn to the Virgin and Two Psalms. All three pieces were composed in the early 1930s, although the Psalms were not heard until their premiere in December 2012.

University of Essex Choir
London Mozart Players
Peter Edge baritone
Simon Blendis violin
Ben Vonberg-Clark conductor

Britten:
Two Psalms (15’)
The World of the Spirit (40’)
Hymn to the Virgin (3’)

Vaughan Williams:
The Lark Ascending (15’)
Sancta Civitas (35’)