Three Choirs Festival

Roderick Williams baritone
Marta Fontanals-Simmons mezzo-soprano
Rebecca Jones viola
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Three Choirs Festival Chorus
Martyn Brabbins conductor

Ronald Corp Hail and Farewell 18' premiere
Vaughan Williams Flos Campi 18'
Gavin Higgins The Faerie Bride40' on a libretto by Francesca Simon

“Sometimes I think I hear her voice, when the wind whispers over the water…” The ancient Welsh legend and tragic love story of the Lady of the Lake is brought to life in Gloucestershire-born composer Gavin Higgins’ spellbinding cantata, soloists Roderick Williams and Marta Fontanals-Simmons. The theme of love continues in Vaughan Williams’ rich and sensuous Flos Campi (Flower of the Field), inspired by the Song of Solomon. Oriental flavours are interwoven with an English pastoral idyll to create a lush dance between viola, oboe and chorus. Alongside these works is Ronald Corp’s new song cycle in memory of Carolyn Pascall, a much-missed friend of the festival.

This concert will be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Supported by Michael Guittard and Harry Prince
Hail and Farewell commissioned and supported by John Hammond in memory of Carolyn Pascall and further supported by Jeremy Wilding and Sue Vaughan.