E8. St Martin's Voices and Zeb Soanes

Friends' Booking from 10 Aug 2026. General Booking from 24 Aug 2026.Henry Purcell Fairest IsleRalph Vaughan Williams Five English Folk Songs- The dark-eyed sailor- The springtime of the year- Just as the tide was flowing- The lover's ghost- Wassail songJames MacMillan The gallant weaverKristina Arakelyan My true love is parted from meMichael Tippett Four Songs from the British Isles- Early one morning- Lilliburlero- Poortith cauld- GwenllianGordon Jacob (arr.) The ash groveBenjamin Britten Five Flower Songs- To daffodils- The succession of the four sweet months- Marsh flowers- The evening primrose- The ballad of green broomSarah Quartel The parting glassKerry Andrew All things are quite silentCecilia McDowall How sour sweet music is from When time is brokeGrayston Ives (arr.) All through the nightGustav Holst (arr.) I love my loveSarah Rimkus Charlie is my darlingBetween the musical items, Zeb Soanes will be reading poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Pope, John Clare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, WH Auden, William Blake and Christina Rossetti
Anchored by choral cycles from three quintessentially British composers of the last century, the programme takes us round the British Isles on a kaleidoscopic musical and poetic journey. An evening reminding ourselves of our islands' musical heritage will be an evocative one. Centuries-old folk tunes and favourite pieces of verse we've held within us since childhood can't fail to bring back to life half-remembered stories, together with the thoughts and feelings that went with them at the time. But those elements from the past that survive and pass the test of time become - as the pieces in the programme from living composers attest - very much part of the present as well.Described as "almost miraculously polished" (Gramophone), St Martin's Voices is one of the UK's leading vocal ensembles, renowned for its musical versatility and clarity of sound. The choir sings for regular concerts and special events at its home in London's St Martin-in-the-Fields, performing repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to new commissions from British composers. They appear regularly at concert venues across the UK and are often featured in broadcasts on BBC Radios 3 and 4 and Classic FM.Stmartinsvoices.ComAfter many years as an announcer at the BBC, including as the voice of The Shipping Forecast, Zeb Soanes joined Classic FM in 2022 and his nightly show Relaxing Evenings regularly attracts over a million listeners. He was appointed Chancellor of the University of Suffolk last year and is currently on stage in the one-man show Two Halves of Guinness about his hero Sir Alec Guinness, marking the 25th anniversary of the celebrated actor's death.Zebsoanes.ComMore information and events on our website