Sir Harrison Birtwistle鈥檚 large-scale orchestral work from 1986 explores the element of Earth with a primordial power and colossal ambition: it鈥檚 one of his greatest scores and impresses with its strength and ambition 30 years on.

Martyn Brabbins, a master of this music, then turns his attention to the element of Water 鈥� Ralph Vaughan Williams鈥檚 choral A Sea Symphony, one of the most confident first symphonies ever, first heard in 1910, with its two singers lifting the poetry of Walt Whitman into song.

Two superb singers of the younger generation and the 麻豆官网首页入口 Symphony Chorus join the 麻豆官网首页入口 Symphony Orchestra for a programme that exults in the power of nature.

Please note that soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn replaces the originally advertised Elizabeth Watts.