Britten’s Saint Nicolas is a cantata about the life of the patron saint of children, seamen, voyagers, and scholars. It chronicles several of the saint’s most celebrated life events. Britten’s music paints a dramatically bold portrait of the saint’s character, and captures both the innocence and reverence of the memories of Saint Nicolas.
Britten's Simple Symphony is a joyful work that he composed at the age of 20 based on material that he originally wrote in his pre-teen years. This charming symphony reflects the innocence and optimism of his early years while hinting at the more sophisticated structures that would characterise his music in the future.
Michael Hurd composed sixty published scores and wrote twenty books on music. Conductor and composer Jonathan Willcocks wrote: “Unlike many contemporary composers, Michael Hurd writes music that is immediately attractive both to performers and audience”.
This concert will launch a recording of Michael Hurd’s choral music on the Lyrita label.
Music’s Praise is a choral suite setting texts by William Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, Robert Herrick, and William Strode, commissioned by the Stroud Festival and first performed in 1968. The Phoenix and the Turtle, a setting of William Shakespeare’s metaphysical poem for mezzo-soprano and chorus, was commissioned and first performed by the Canterbury Singers in 1974.
Hertfordshire Chorus, directed by David Temple MBE, is one of finest large choirs in the UK, renowned both for the quality of their classical choral music and for commissioning and performing new works by contemporary composers.