English Music Festival 2022: Vaughan Williams, Holst, Coleridge Taylor, Havergal Brian and an Ivor Gurney premiere

Dorchester Abbey

The English Music Festival is back at Dorchester Abbey for a fun-filled weekend (27-29 May 2022) of English rarities including music by RVW (of course celebrating the 150th anniversary), Holst, Coleridge Taylor, Havergal Brian, Ivor Gurney and much else besides.

The festival's publishing arm is publishing a new performing edition of Coleridge Taylor's Violin Concerto and this will be presented at a concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Martin Yates, with soloist Rupert Marshall Luck, plus music by Elgar, Delius, Alwyn, RO Morris and a chance to hear RVW's folk-dance piece Old King Cole.

Joseph Fort and the Choir of King's College, London will join the English Chamber Orchestra for a rare outing for Holst's Sanskrit infused The Cloud Messenger [which they recorded in 2020, see my review], whilst baritone Roderick Williams, the Godwine Choir and Holst Orchestra, conductor by Hilary Davan Wetton perform RVW's Willow Wood plus music by Bainton, Dyson, Finzi, Howells and Ireland.

As a celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Elysian Singers perform A Garland for the Queen, originally written by Bliss, Bax, Tippett, RVW, Ireland, Howells, Finzi, Berkeley, Rawsthorne and Rubbra for the Coronation. Baritone Gareth Brynmor John and pianist Christopher Glynnwill be providing a welcome showcase for Havergal Brian's songs, whilst Rupert Marshall Luck and pianist Nathan Williamson will premiere Gurney's Violin Sonata in D major along with music by  Robin Milford, Cecil Armstrong Gibbs and Elgar.

There is a lot more besides, full details from the English Music Festival website.