A slash of a paintbrush becomes a stroke of a bow. Three boundary-pushing composers take on the visual arts through sound.

Hear Judith Weir’s Heroic Strokes of the Bow, inspired by a work of the same name by Paul Klee, take the score-like composition of Klee’s painting literally, carving out thick passages of song from restless strings and clamorous woodwind. Then, experience Farrenc’s Symphony No. 1, shockingly neglected at time of release, exhibit a Tchaikovsky-like lyricism within its fiery, colourful landscapes.


Rush Hour #7: Impressions

St John’s Church, Waterloo

**Event: Three Choirs Festival: The Cloud Messenger**

**Date & Time:** Sunday 28 July 2024, 7.30pm

**Venue:** Worcester Cathedral

**Ticket Prices:** £15 - £63

**On Sale:** Coming soon

**Overview:**
Immerse yourself in an evening of exotic romantic fantasy with "The Cloud Messenger" at the prestigious Three Choirs Festival, held in the magnificent Worcester Cathedral. This rich sung epic, inspired by Indian stories and beliefs, promises to transport the audience to a remote and colorful paradise through its vibrant music and compelling narrative.

**Artists:**
- **Conductor:** Geraint Bowen
- **Mezzo-Soprano:** Beth Taylor
- **Featuring:** Three Choirs Festival Voices

**Programme Highlights:**
- **World Premiere:** Nathan James Dearden's New work
- **Weir:** Still, Glowing
- **Respighi:** The Birds
- **Holst:** The Cloud Messenger

**Special Features:**
- Holst's "The Cloud Messenger" sets a Sanskrit poem to music, telling the story of a nature spirit who convinces a passing cloud to carry a love message to his distant wife in the Himalayas.
- Nathan James Dearden’s Festival commission offers a series of choral landscapes that echo messages from history to future generations.
- Respighi's "The Birds" brings to life the movements and songs of birds through lively and extraordinary music.

**Additional Information:**
- **Running Time:** 1 hr 45 mins, including an interval
- **Box Office Contact:** Three Choirs Festival Box Office: 01452 768928 | info3choirs.org

Join us for an unforgettable evening that blends the beauty of choral music with the mystique of ancient tales, all set against the backdrop of one of England's most historic cathedrals.

Three Choirs Festival: The Cloud Messenger

Worcester Cathedral

Join us for a profound evening of music and reflection at the Three Choirs Festival: Mass for the Endangered, taking place in the majestic Worcester Cathedral on Monday, 29 July 2024, at 7:30 pm. This unique concert event promises to be a celebration of the natural world, featuring the Philharmonia and the Three Choirs Festival Chorus under the baton of conductor Samuel Hudson.

The evening will commence with the UK premiere of Cameron Biles-Liddell’s "Yr Afon Yn Yr Awyr" (The River in the Sky), a playful and evocative piece inspired by the River Dee's journey through the Welsh landscape. Following this, the audience will be treated to Judith Weir’s "O Sweet Spontaneous Earth," a setting of three poems that contemplate our relationship with our planet. The first half will conclude with Edward Elgar’s beloved "Serenade for Strings," a piece cherished by the composer himself.

The highlight of the concert will be Sarah Kirkland Snider’s "Mass for the Endangered," a powerful and immersive work that combines music of intense beauty with words of deep concern for our planet. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of choral music traditions, Snider creates a prayerful and contemplative mass that serves as both a celebration of and a lament for the natural world.

Tickets are priced between £15 and £63, and the concert will run for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an interval. For more information or to purchase tickets once they go on sale, please contact the Three Choirs Festival Box Office at 01452 768928 or email info3choirs.org.

Don't miss this stunning evening of music that promises to leave you profoundly moved and more connected to the world around us.

Three Choirs Festival: Mass for the Endangered

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Three Choirs Festival featuring the remarkable talents of Anna Lapwood and the BBC Singers, accompanied by the Philharmonia. This special concert will take place in the majestic setting of Worcester Cathedral on Tuesday, 30th July 2024, at 7pm.

The evening promises to be a profound musical journey, showcasing a diverse program that includes Arakelyan's "Seascapes," Britten's "Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes" transcribed for organ by Anna Lapwood, Poulenc's "Figure Humaine," and Weir's "In the Land of Uz." These pieces together explore themes of freedom, suffering, and the human spirit's resilience, making for a deeply moving experience.

Under the baton of conductor Sofi Jeannin, with performances by tenor Mark Padmore, narrator Charles Gibbs, and organists Anna Lapwood and Nicholas Freestone, the concert will bring to life the emotional depth and complexity of these works. The BBC Singers' collaboration with Anna Lapwood is particularly noteworthy, blending choral and organ music to create an evocative soundscape.

Tickets are priced between £15 and £58, offering a range of options for attendees. The concert will run for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an interval, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the music and the cathedral's atmospheric setting.

For more information or to purchase tickets once they go on sale, please contact the Three Choirs Festival Box Office at 01452 768928 or email info3choirs.org. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a night of exquisite music and powerful storytelling at one of the UK's most historic cathedrals.

Judith Weir

Events

May 8, 2024

Rush Hour #7: Impressions · Southbank Sinfonia

Jul 28, 2024

Three Choirs Festival: The Cloud Messenger · Philharmonia Orchestra

Jul 29, 2024

Three Choirs Festival: Mass for the Endangered · Philharmonia Orchestra

Jul 30, 2024

Three Choirs Festival: Anna Lapwood and BBC Singers · Philharmonia Orchestra

About

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