Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony and Toward the Unknown Region
wirh Brittens Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
When
Sunday 30 March 2025
Concert starts 7:30 pm
Where:
Anvil Theatre - Basingstoke
Vaughan Williams was deeply inspired by the poetry of American writer, Walt Whitman, whose verses from ‘Leaves of Grass’ form the text of both ‘A Sea Symphony’ and the shorter choral work, ‘Toward the Unknown Region’. Whitman’s expansive and humanistic vision of the sea, a metaphor for both the natural world and the spiritual journey of mankind, appealed strongly to Vaughan Williams. The symphony captures the grandeur, mystery, and awe of the ocean, while at the same time representing human experience and exploration. It is remarkable as one of the earliest major choral symphonies in the English repertoire. Composed between 1903 and 1909, it premièred at the Leeds Festival in 1910, with Vaughan Williams himself conducting. Each of the two works is a powerful testament to Vaughan Williams’ ability to blend poetry and music into a unified, stirring experience. Benjamin Britten’s ‘Four Sea Interludes’ extracted from his 1945 opera ‘Peter Grimes’, are some of the most evocative orchestral music in the 20th-century classical repertoire. In the opera, the interludes serve as atmospheric transitions between each scene, but are frequently performed, as in our concert, as a stand-alone suite. The Suite remains one of Britten’s most popular orchestral works and is a powerful example of his ability to fuse musical drama and atmospheric depiction. All three works in the concert regularly captivate audiences with their rich imagery and emotional depth, inviting listeners to travel on a profound and majestic journey across the seas of the world and the human soul. We are delighted to be joined once again by our friends from Croydon Philharmonic Choir, as well as a professional orchestra and soloists , making this a concert not to be missed, so join us on our seaward travels.
