TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST from chairman@holstsociety.org or on the door – please do get in touch to secure your seat! The recital take place in the Chapter House within Gloucester Cathedral.

Hosted by The Holst Society, our recital, ‘Light and Song’, lives in the light and darkness of life through poetry and song. With music and words from four centuries, we have lovers seeking the shade of trees, gazers at the stars of heaven, summer evening sunset, dreams, imaginings and heaven.

There are some lesser-known gems and some familiar songs. Our highlight is Britten’s astonishing Canticle 1 ‘My beloved is Mine’, which sets the metaphysical poet Francis Quarles as he meditates on divine love. Surrounding this masterpiece are works of Dowland, Vaughan Williams, Gustav and Imogen Holst, Rebecca Clarke, Madeleine Dring, Muriel Herbert, and a little gem by Dilys Elwyn-Edwards setting Yeats. The recital offers a glorious kaleidoscopic vision of English Song and we are delighted to welcome James Gilchrist and Ashok Gupta.

James Gilchrist began his working life as a doctor, turning to a full-time music career in 1996. His musical interest was fired at a young age, singing first as a chorister in the choir of New College, Oxford, and later as a choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge. Gilchrist’s extensive concert repertoire has seen him perform in major concert halls throughout the world with renowned conductors including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, Bernard Labadie, Harry Christophers, Harry Bicket, Masaaki Suzuki and Richard Hickox.

The Holst Society

The aim of The Holst Society is to bring the works of composer Gustav Holst, (1874-1934), to a wider audience by promoting and sponsoring recordings and performances. Further information about activities and how to support by joining can be found at The Holst Society website: www.holstsociety.org

(James Gilchrist, photo ©Stephen Boffey)