Celebrating 500 years of support in Islington, Vox Holloway and Cloudesley present The Stony Field, a musical fable celebrating the life and legacy of Richard Cloudesley, by Harvey Brough and Justin Butcher. A magical story of a stony field, a miraculous harvest - and a dream which came true.
In 1517, Islington landowner Richard Cloudesley bequeathed a plot of land known as 'The Stony Fields' or 'The Fourteen Acre' in perpetuity for a variety of social and religious purposes. Fields grazed by cattle in the 16th century today deliver an income which funds annual grants of £900,000 to local residents in need, local charities, community projects and churches.
To celebrate the extraordinary fruits of this bequest, its remarkable survival over the centuries and its continuing impact today, effecting change in the lives of many of the most marginalised communities and individuals in society, acclaimed north London choir Vox Holloway will premiere a magical and inspiring new choral work, by renowned composer Harvey Brough (Eyes wide shut, Her naked skin, War Horse) and award-winning playwright Justin Butcher (Scaramouche Jones, The Madness of George Dubya, The Devil's Passion), featuring acclaimed soloists alongside some of the UK’s finest early music instrumentalists, with Elizabeth Garret Anderson School Choir and the 100 voices of Vox Holloway. The concert programme includes Handel’s sublime 'Foundling Hospital Anthem' and Brough’s 'A Particular Care', inspired by the history of the Thomas Coram Foundling Hospital.
“The most wonderful evening with Vox Holloway. It was magical. You were superb.” David Suchet on 'The Year of Jubilee'
“Harvey and Justin’s amazing creation … is such an extraordinary piece of work. I found it unspeakably moving. I wanted to sob like a child at the end. The choirs were exquisite … it comes very much from their souls. It was amazing. I feel utterly uplifted and sort of, I don’t know, blessed.” Emma Thompson on 'Music on the Mind'
"You have managed to bring people together in a quite remarkable way. You only had to hear the reception at the end to realise that you had touched the hearts of all who came along." John Rutter on 'Ona's Flood'
Tube and Overground: Angel (Northern Line), Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line, Overground and National Rail); Bus: 4, 19, 30 and 43 (Upper Street); 56, 73, 341, 476 (Essex Road)
Note: 15-minute interval, refreshments, access for wheelchair users and guide dogs, child-friendly.