Saved events

RAF Centenary Concert

100 Years of British Music

,Barbican Hall
Roderick Williams standing against wall

London Concert Choir celebrates the RAF’s 100th Anniversary with a new work by Roderick Williams and music by British composers of the last 100 years, including Parry, Walton and Britten.

This concert of 100 years of British music culminates in the world premiere of a major choral work by Roderick Williams, which has been commissioned to celebrate and commemorate the centenary of the Royal Air Force and provide a musical legacy of the event. With the setting of a wide range of aviation poetry at its heart, the work conveys the essence of significant episodes in the RAF’s history in choral movements interspersed with vignettes narrated by Sophie Raworth and Martin Shaw.

The concert begins with magnificent Coronation anthems by Parry and Walton, Britten’s engaging Simple Symphony for strings, and stirring music from the RAF Band. 

Tagged with: Classical music

Programme

  • Morrell   Fanfare for RAF 100
  • Parry   I was glad
  • Britten   Simple Symphony
  • Walton   Te Deum
  • Bliss   March from Things to Come
  • Spark   Music of the Spheres
  • Hess   Ladies in Lavender
  • Lawrence   Into the Skies
  • Roderick Williams   Per Ardua ad Astra - Through Adversity to the Stars (world premiere)

Performers

  • London Concert Choir  
  • Canticum and Children’s Chorus  
  • Counterpoint string ensemble  
  • Mark Forkgen   conductor
  • Central Band of the Royal Air Force*  
  • Wng Cmdr Piers Morrell   conductor
  • Sophie Raworth and Martin Shaw   narrators

*The Central Band of the Royal Air Force appears by permission of the Air Force Board of the Defence Council.

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.