Vaughan Williams 150th Anniversary: A Sea Symphony with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and City of London Choir

City Of London Choir

The RPO take off with Vaughan Williams’s Overture to The Wasps, an early nod to both folk music and Ravel, both huge influences on his writing. Then, journey to East Anglia and his vivid depiction of the Norfolk coastline. Pianist Mark Bebbington ends the first half with a flourish, taking centre-stage as soloist in a very rare performance of Vaughan Williams’s unusual Fantasia on the Old 104th Psalm Tune. 

And in its full and mighty force, the well-loved restless, capricious and majestic Sea Symphony is led by star soloists Roderick Williams and Sophie Bevan. In the choir’s 2016 performance of Dona nobis pacem here, the Guardian said their ‘handling of the Vaughan Williams… was an achievement of which it can be proud’. Under the baton of Hilary Davan Wetton once again, this will be a deserved celebration of the ground-breaking composer.

Programme:

Vaughan Williams: Overture to The Wasps

Vaughan Williams: Norfolk Rhapsody No 1

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia (Quasi Variazione) on the 'Old 104th' Psalm Tune

Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony

Performers:

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Hilary Davan Wetton, conductor

City of London Choir

Sophie Bevan, soprano

Roderick Williams, baritone

Mark Bebbington, piano

Generously supported by the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust