An Evening of English Classics

Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor Enyi Okpara create a tapestry of British wind and string music for this evening’s concert.

Elgar’s Serenade for Strings is poignant and lyrical – a showcase for strings, characterised by unfiltered emotion and lush, flowing melodies. In Vaughan Williams’ spacious and spiritual Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, layered strings echo like voices in an empty hall.

Britten’s Simple Symphony brings a burst of youthful energy – sharp, playful and full of charm – while Holst’s St Paul’s Suite dances with bold rhythms and folk spirit. Butterworth’s The Banks of Green Willow offers a deeply moving moment of pastoral beauty, and Vaughan Williams lets the violin sing and soar with the much-loved Lark Ascending.

This is music that stirs the heart and lets the imagination wander.