ANGELS UNAWARES
Cadogan Hall
2 Jun 2026 at 7:30pm
Performers
- Elizabeth Watts
- soprano
- Matthew McKinney
- tenor
- The Sixteen
- Britten Sinfonia
- Harry Christophers
- conductor
Programme
- James MacMillan
- Angels Unawares
- James MacMillan
- Nothing in Vain
- Tallis
- Why Fum’th in Fight
- Vaughan Williams
- Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
The Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia present the UK premiere of James MacMillan's brand new oratorio.
A new oratorio by MacMillan written in collaboration with the late poet and cleric, Robert Willis, who was the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral until 2022.
When Sir James MacMillan writes a new choral work, the world takes notice because few living composers write with more honesty and passion. With a span of around an hour, Angels Unawares is a major new statement from MacMillan coupled with a brilliant libretto written by Robert Willis, former Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, completed shortly before his untimely death in autumn 2024.
Who better to give the work’s UK premiere than The Sixteen and the Britten Sinfonia, both committed champions of MacMillan’s work?
Angels Unawares is commissioned and supported by the Genesis Foundation for Harry Christophers and The Sixteen.
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“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”