Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra

Douglas Boyd, Music Director of Garsington Opera, joins the Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra for an evening that moves from French refinement to classical grandeur.

Conductor Douglas Boyd
Soloists James Way (tenor), Lauren Reeve-Rawlings (horn)

Programme

Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin
Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings
Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte
Mozart Symphony No. 41 in C, Jupiter

Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin opens the concert — a graceful homage to the Baroque, each movement a poignant tribute to friends lost in the First World War.

Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings follows, setting English poetry on themes of night, nature, and mortality. The solo parts are performed by tenor James Way (who appeared as Flute in Garsington Opera’s acclaimed A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Boyd in 2024) and horn player Lauren Reeve-Rawlings.

After the interval, Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte offers a moment of serene reflection before the concert concludes with Mozart’s majestic final symphony, the Jupiter.

“Douglas Boyd and the Philharmonia are a class act… he drew terrific, detailed playing from them, revelling in the sinister unease of Britten’s score.” Mark Pullinger, Opera Now

“James Way’s instinctive understanding of this stimulating repertoire [Britten’s Canticles] seems remarkably complete… he displays technical security, mellifluous timbre, and a range of tone-colour that excite admiration.” Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone Magazine