An English Song Recital - featuring British Tenor James Gilchrist

About the show

Songs by Gustav & Imogen Holst, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Dowland, Madeleine Dring, Rebecca Clarke, Muriel Herbert and Dilys Elwyn-Edward in the Chapter House within Gloucester Cathedral.

Tickets are priced at £20, or £10 for under 16s, available from chairman@holstsociety.org

Hosted by The Holst Society, our recital, 'Light and Song', lives in the light and darkness of life through poetry and song. With music and words from four centuries, we have lovers seeking the shade of trees, gazers at the stars of heaven, summer evening sunset, dreams, imaginings and heaven.

There are some lesser-known gems and some familiar songs. Our highlight is Britten's astonishing Canticle 1 'My beloved is Mine', which sets the metaphysical poet Francis Quarles as he meditates on divine love. Surrounding this masterpiece are works of Dowland, Vaughan Williams, Gustav and Imogen Holst, Rebecca Clarke, Madeleine Dring, Muriel Herbert, and a little gem by Dilys Elwyn-Edwards setting Yeats. The recital offers a glorious kaleidoscopic vision of English Song.

James Gilchrist began his working life as a doctor, turning to a full-time music career in 1996. His musical interest was fired at a young age, singing first as a chorister in the choir of New College, Oxford, and later as a choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge. Gilchrist’s extensive concert repertoire has seen him perform in major concert halls throughout the world with many renowned conductors.

(Photo credit ©Patrick Allen)