BRITTEN SINFONIA WITH ELIZABETH WATTS
Performers
- Elizabeth Watts
- soprano
- Britten Sinfonia
Programme
- Ryan Latimer
- new work (world premiere, commissioned by Britten Sinfonia)
- Finzi
- Dies Natalis
- Dobrinka Tabakova
- Barbican Glade
- Richard Blackford
- Songs of Nadia Anjuman (UK premiere, commissioned by Britten Sinfonia)
- Elgar
- Serenade for Strings
‘One of the most beautiful voices Britain has produced in a generation’ (International Record Review), Elizabeth Watts joins Britten Sinfonia to perform two song cycles which show the best and worst of humanity.
Finzi’s Dies Natalis sets texts by 17th century philosopher Thomas Traherne about the joy and innocence of a baby’s view of the world. By contrast, Richard Blackford’s new piece, commissioned by Britten Sinfonia, sets powerfully moving poems of love, longing and fury by Afghan writer Nadia Anjuman, whose courageous life was tragically cut short when she was killed, aged 25, by her husband.
Britten Sinfonia performs beautifully intimate pieces for strings by Elgar and Dobrinka Tabakova, and we’re treated to the premiere of a new work by the ‘anarchic and cartoonishly fun’ (BBC Radio 3) composer Ryan Latimer.