Pierrepoint: In the Balance

Pairing the premiere of composer Paul Honey’s dramatic oratorio Pierrepoint: In the Balance with Gabriel Fauré’s timeless Requiem, this is a compelling programme that explores themes of mortality, justice and absolution.

With a libretto by Gregory Warren Wilson, Honey’s engrossing work takes place during the tense, claustrophobic night in 1955 before the execution of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom. 2026 marks the centenary of Ellis’ birth and last July, Charles III granted her a conditional pardon, formally acknowledging the profound injustice of her execution.

The work imagines the psychological weight bearing down on her executioner, Albert Pierrepoint, as he makes his preparations. Pierrepoint later declared that his lifetime’s work had never prevented a murder.

Following this intense moral reckoning, Fauré’s Requiem offers a profound emotional shift. Where Honey’s oratorio confronts the stark reality of state-sanctioned killing, Fauré’s luminous masterpiece provides a serene space. Moving away from judgment, its peaceful, comforting setting serves as a transcendent prayer for the departed soul.