What's On

This festival of English song written during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries features works by Britten, Finzi, Vaughan Williams, Delius, Gurney and more, together with new works specially commissioned by Brian Elias and Julian Philips. This is the fifth of the triennial Ludlow English Song weekends, all under Artistic Director Iain Burnside.

The King's Singers are including a seldom performed work, Britten's Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, and there will be a special sequence about Ivor Gurney with actor reading Gurney's poetry between songs by the Gloucestershire poet. A rare opportunity is performance of Gurney's Western Playland by the Carducci Quartet with Delius's Late Swallows.

There are nine concerts spread over the four days, together with talks by Finzi and Elgar biographer Diana McVeagh, broadcaster Roderick Swanston, Andrew Walton engineer producer at Naxos and John Bridcut, whose film Britten's Children will also be shown. Sir John Tomlinson will be giving a Masterclass for students from London colleges

The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Before the paling of the stars

Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)

The splendour falls on castle walls

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Once did I breathe another's breath

Brian Elias (1948-)

Pessoa settings

Julian Philips (1969-)

The Western Playland, for baritone, piano and string quartet

Ivor Gurney (1890-1937)

Late Swallows

Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

In 2013 world-renowned choir The Sixteen will present its most far-reaching Choral Pilgrimage tour yet, encompassing 34 concerts around the UK and Ireland. The tour, entitled The Queen of Heaven, will see Harry Christophers CBE and his choir perform glorious music in churches and cathedrals for which it was written. This will be a must-hear event where the group will take you through the musical evolution of the Allegri’s legendary and much-requested Miserere. The programme also features stunning music by the ‘Prince of Music’ Palestrina, as well as another brilliant yet contrasting setting of the Miserere by James MacMillan.

Miserere mei

Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)

Regina caeli laetare

Plainchant ()

Kyrie from Missa Regina caeli

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Dominus dabit benignitatem

James MacMillan (1959-)

Improperium expectavit cor meum

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Videns Dominus from Strathclyde Motets

James MacMillan (1959-)

Stabat mater

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Regina caeli a8

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Vineam meam non custodivi

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

O Radiant Dawn

James MacMillan (1959-)

Pulchrae sunt genae tuae

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Miserere

James MacMillan (1959-)

Agnus Dei from Missa Regina caeli

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

One of Verdi's greatest operas, Simon Boccanegra has a score inspired by the sea. It is the master's most intimate opera, revised with care at the end of his life - but it also calls for the largest company ETO has fielded to date.

Originally set in medieval Genoa, Verdi's plea for an end to factionalism in politics was never more resonant than in Italy after World War II, where ETO's production is located. Verdi's depiction of the shimmering Mediterranean is wonderful. So too are the characters he creates, from Simon, the rough-hewn buccaneer, to his adversary, his own father-in-law.

Michael Rosewell conducts this new production, sung in Italian with English surtitles. starring Craig Smith in the title role, Grant Doyle, Elizabeth Llewellyn and Charne Rochford.

Simon Boccanegra

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

The third and final concert of her series of special concerts in London ‘Reiko Fujisawa and Friends’ features Reiko performing in collaboration with more of her wonderful friends and colleagues from the UK. This programme of music for piano and winds with a rare appearance by the Soloists of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra promises to be a real treat.

As part of Japan 400, the nationwide festival of the start of cultural relations between Britain and Japan, the series is being generously supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation

Quintet for Piano and Wind in E flat

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Quintet for Keyboard, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon in E Flat

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Adagio and Allegro for horn and piano in A flat

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon

Shin-ichiro Ikebe ()