Belshazzar’s Feast – Coventry Cathedral
Saturday, 6th May 2017, 7.30pm
Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region, a favourite with the Saint Michael’s Singers, will open this exciting, all-English programme.
Belshazzar’s Feast: Walton
It could be argued that Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast is one of the greatest choral works of all time. For double choir, semi-chorus, baritone, huge orchestra, organ and 2 brass bands – large-scale doesn’t come into it! The telling of the Old Testament story of the fall of Babylon and the greedy exploits of King Nebuchadnezzar provide the foundation for a musical drama of epic proportions with one of the most exciting conclusions ever written.
This is a choral tour de force and allows the choir and audience to enjoy Vaughan Williams’ beautifully melodic and carefully-crafted setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry. The Enigma Variations give the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra the chance to perform one of Elgar’s most beautiful orchestral pieces, which includes Nimrod, one of the most famous orchestral movements of all time.
From the most gently sublime melodies to the vast forces and resulting drama of Belshazzar’s Feast, this will be an ideal programme to present in the dramatic surroundings of Coventry Cathedral.