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

Vivid depictions of the sea, virtuosic piano lines and lavish musical forces: the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and City of London Choir celebrate 150 years since Ralph Vaughan Williams’s birth.

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