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A Sea Symphony

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Brabbins

,Barbican Hall
Elizabeth Llewellyn soprano

Two scores explore the elements of Earth and Water: Birtwistle’s mid-1980s masterpiece and a great symphonic first, Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony.

Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s large-scale orchestral work from 1986 explores the element of Earth with a primordial power and colossal ambition: it’s one of his greatest scores and impresses with its strength and ambition 30 years on.

Martyn Brabbins, a master of music like this, then turns his attention to the element of Water – Ralph Vaughan Williams’s choral A Sea Symphony, one of the most confident first symphonies ever, first heard in 1910, with its two singers lifting the poetry of Walt Whitman into song. Two superb singers – Elizabeth Llewellyn and Marcus Farnsworth – and the BBC Symphony Chorus join the BBC Symphony Orchestra for a programme that exults in the power of nature.

Tagged with: Classical music BBC Symphony Orchestra 2017–18 Multibuy BBC Symphony Orchestra 2017–18

Programme

  • Birtwistle   Earth Dances
  • Vaughan Williams   Symphony No 1, A Sea Symphony

Performers

  • BBC Symphony Orchestra  
  • Martyn Brabbins   conductor
  • Elizabeth Llewellyn   soprano
  • Marcus Farnsworth   baritone
  • BBC Symphony Chorus  

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Barbican Hall

Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.