Music / Classical Music
Celebrating the centenary of The Lark Ascending
The 100th anniversary of The Lark Ascending is being marked with a concert – broadcast online – from the same venue where it was first performed.
Vaughan Williams adapted the final draft of one of the UK’s favourite pieces of classical music in collaboration with soloist Marie Hall while he was staying at Kings Weston House.
Williams dedicated the piece to Hall, and she gave the premiere at nearby Shirehampton Public Hall on December 15 1920.
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The Bristol Ensemble – with violin soloist Jennifer Pike and Exultate Singers – will perform The Lark Ascending on Tuesday, December 15 as part of a shortened version of the original 1920 programme. It will be broadcast online via Bristol Beacon’s website.
The Lark Ascending was voted the nation’s favourite piece of music in Classic FM’s Hall of Fame 2020 poll and was also voted the most popular Desert Island Disc as chosen by BBC Radio 4 listeners.
Todd Wills, artistic director at Bristol Beacon, said: “We’ve been talking for a long time about how to celebrate such a special piece of music and its unique connection to Bristol.
“We’re so pleased that despite the challenges, we have been able to work with Shirehampton Public Hall and Bristol Ensemble to perform this concert in its original setting – which is a very special achievement.”
The Lark Ascending was composed in 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War and inspired by a poem of the same name by George Meredith. Photo: Bob Pitchford
Bristol Ensemble artistic director, Roger Huckle, added: “We are delighted to be celebrating the centenary. It’s a really important part of Bristol and UK musical history and an uplifting story to tell in these difficult times.
“We want to make this a true community event and celebrate this wonderful music and history of Shirehampton Public Hall and Kings Weston House.”
The Lark Ascending will be broadcast at 7.30pm on Tuesday, December 15. The event is free, but donations are welcomed to support the cost of the event. To watch, visit www.bristolbeacon.org/lark-100
Main photo: Bob Pitchford
Read more: 21 historic photos of Shirehampton
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