Join us for On the Shoulders of Giants, an evocative evening of British and Baroque string music, tracing a rich lineage of inspiration across centuries. The programme opens with Purcell’s stately Chaconne, followed by Tallis’ serene In Nomine, works which lay the foundations for the timeless English sound world. Vaughan Williams’s beloved Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis draws on this legacy with lush harmonies and spiritual depth, while Britten’s playful Simple Symphony offers charm and wit drawn from his themes the composer created in childhood. Finzi’s lyrical Romance brings a moment of quiet reflection, steeped in pastoral beauty.

In the second half, we travel back to the Italian Baroque with Corelli’s Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 2, whose grandeur and grace echo forward into Tippett’s thrilling Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli, a vibrant 20th-century reimagining of Corelli’s style.

An evening of elegant continuity and bold reinvention, On the Shoulders of Giants celebrates the enduring voice of the string orchestra and the debt we owe to the greatness of former generations.

Full Programme

Purcell: Chaconne
Tallis: In Nomine
Vaughan Williams: Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Britten: Simple Symphony
Finzi: Romance
Corelli: Concerto Grosso opus 6 no 2
Tippett: Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli