BMS members are being offered discounted tickets to an event next month celebrating the 150th anniversary of composer Gustav Holst which is being held as part of the London Song Festival’s autumn series of concerts called Class of 1874.
“Holst believed strongly that music is for everyone, and his teaching at Morley College and St Paul’s School for Girls bears witness to this,’ said LSF director Nigel Foster.
“This concert will explores his life and his philosophy about music through his songs and through readings from his letters and lecture notes, revealing a man of humour, kindness, and generosity, qualities which are also evident in his songs.
“Holst’s ever-enquiring mind can be seen from his obsession with Sanskrit texts, several of which he set to music as his Vedic Hymns. He wasn’t happy with the English translations he found, so he enrolled at the University of London to learn Sanskrit so that he could write his own translations,” added Nigel.
The programme consists entirely of songs by Holst, including some of the Vedic Hymns, some of his Humbert Wolfe Songs, quite a few songs only recently published by Goodmusic, and two unpublished songs, one being a canon that Holst wrote for his friend the conductor Adrian Boult’s wedding in 1933.
The concert, described as a a feast for everyone who loves English song, will feature mezzo-soprano Katie Bray who won the Audience Prize at the 2019 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
Katie, who has since sung leading roles for Opera North, ENO, WNO, Irish National Opera and Opera Holland Park, will perform with Hugh Brady (tenor), Nigel Foster (piano) and Martin Handley (speaker).
BMS members can buy tickets on the door at a discounted price of £15. The concert is being held on Friday 29th November at 7pm at Hinde Street Methodist Church, 19 Hinde Street, London W1U 2QJ (nearest tube Bond Street).