Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme (‘Enigma’)
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
soloist: Richard Gratwick (violin)
Finzi: Dies Natalis
soloist: James Slimings (tenor)
Britten: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell
Conducted by Neil Mantle
To close our season, we feature the music of these shores, including two 'Classic FM top twenty' favourites: Vaughan Williams’ eloquent depiction of the lazy motion of a lark in flight, in which we feature our superb leader Richard Gratwick, and Elgar’s well loved ‘Enigma’ Variations, in which he immortalised his friends in delighted miniatures - including, of course - "Nimrod", which was a key factor in spreading this wonderful work worldwide.
Another - very different - set of variations unites the 17th and 20th centuries in the form of the theme of Henry Purcell with the imaginative thematic transformations by Benjamin Britten. A splendid opportunity for each and every section of your wonderful orchestra to demonstrate their virtuosity!
We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting and varied season of concerts!