Friday 13 May 2022

The Jubilee Elgar Festival in Worcester

English Symphony Orchestra and Kenneth Woods
English Symphony Orchestra and Kenneth Woods

What better way to celebrate the forthcoming Jubilee than a festival of English Music. The Jubilee Elgar Festival in Worcester runs from 3 to 5 June 2022, curated by artistic director Kenneth Woods with the English Symphony Orchestra in residence. The music of Elgar is the focus, but there is much else besides including premieres from Ian Venables, David Matthews and John Joubert.

The events begin with baritone Marcus Farnsworth and pianist Eric McElroy in a recital of songs by Elgar, and John Ireland plus some by McElroy and the premiere of one by the late John Joubert. And the centre-piece of the festival is the gala concert in Worcester Cathedral, when Kenneth Woods conducts the English Symphony Orchestra and Elgar Festival Chorus, with baritone Marcus Farnsworth, soprano April Fredrick in RVW's Festival Te Deum, Elgar's The Spirit of England and In the South (Alassio), and the premiere of the orchestral version of Ian Venables' The Song of the Severn.

Other events include Kenneth Woods conducting the English Symphony Orchestra in string music by Elgar, George Walker, and Doreen Carwithen, plus the premiere of a new piece by David Matthews; Worcester based Elgar Chorale presenting O Hearken Thou, psalm settings by Elgar and his contemporaries; George Parris and Carice Singers in a programme of part-songs by Elgar and by Coleridge-Taylor. There is also a family concert from ESO Youth Orchestra and members of the English Symphony Orchestra.

Full details from the Jubilee Elgar Festival website.

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