鈥淣ow with Grendel, that monstrous beast / With my grip I shall grapple, foe against foe!鈥� In the mists of the dark ages, the warrior Beowulf prepares to battle a bloodthirsty monster. And in a tale from the Old Testament, Job faces the torments of hell, armed only with an unshakable faith. Humanity can defy all odds, and these two ancient tales have inspired music of elemental power.
Indeed, Vaughan Williams鈥� ballet Job is one of the most original masterpieces of 20thcentury British music 鈥� bold, strange and charged with the elemental power of the William Blake drawings that inspired it. But first, experience the epic drama of Beowulf, in a thrilling new choral retelling from one of the 21st century鈥檚 most compelling musical dramatists, narrated by award-winning actor Ruth Wilson and with soloist Charles Styles*.
*Stuart Skelton has had to withdraw from this performance as he is unwell, and we are grateful to Charles Styles who at very short notice will perform in his place.