London Chamber Orchestra at the Royal Wedding, Westminster Abbey
April 29, 2011
The London Chamber Orchestra, led by Musical Director Christopher Warren-Green, was appointed to perform at the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The programme was inspired by pastoral Britain, reflected in the music of some of Britain’s greatest composers. Alongisde works by Vaughan Williams, Britten, Delius and Walton, LCO’s performance also featured music by Parry, a favourite of HRH Prince Charles, and Maxwell Davies, the Master of the Queen’s Music.
“Rather than having something baroque like Handel, we had lots of British composers. But it wasn’t until I saw the trees going into the abbey that I thought: ‘Ah, now I understand’. And then when I saw the dress and the cake and the flowers, everything blended in together” – Christopher Warren-Green, 16th May 2011
Programme
Edward Elgar – Serenade for Strings in E minor, op. 20
Benjamin Britten – Courtly Dance 5: Galliard from Gloriana (Symphonic Suite), op.53a 7
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Greensleeves
Peter Maxwell Davies – Farewell to Stromness
Frederick Delius – On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
William Walton – Touch Her Soft Lips and Part from Henry V Suite
Gerald Finzi – Romance for String Orchestra, op. 11
The service:
Charles Hubert Hastings Parry – March from The Birds
Charles Hubert Hastings Parry – I Was Glad
The National Anthem
Charles Hubert Hastings Parry – Blest Pair of Sirens
William Walton – Crown Imperial
Contact Details
Press Enquiries:
Lucy Frankland/Rosanne Perry, Pelham Bell Pottinger +44 (0) 207 861 3885/3863
For further information, please refer to the London Chamber Orchestra website: www.lco.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About the London Chamber Orchestra
The London Chamber Orchestra (LCO) is the UK’s oldest professional chamber orchestra, founded in May 1921 by Anthony Bernard. The orchestra has pioneered the first London performances of a number of composers including Stravinsky, Bloch and Fauré.
LCO is a non-profit making organisation, it is funded by corporate and individual sponsors as well as Trusts and Foundations and in its ninety year history has received no public subsidy. Its Patron is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, and its Music Director and Principal Conductor is Christopher Warren-Green. The orchestra performs regularly for public and private occasions in London and worldwide and has toured the USA, the Far East and Europe.
Over the next decade LCO plans to expand its Music Junction partnership with Barnardo’s. Music Junction aims to bring together young people from varied backgrounds to take part in exciting musical activities. The project promotes confidence, nurtures self-esteem and encourages participants to develop respect for each other and their wider communities.
LCO has its own music label, LCO Live, with Signum Records.
About Christopher Warren-Green
Christopher Warren-Green was appointed as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the London Chamber Orchestra in 1988. He was recently appointed Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra at the beginning of their 2010/2011 season.
A fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, Christopher has conducted orchestras around the world including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and the St Louis Symphony in the US. In the UK he regularly conducts the BBC Concert, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestras.
Christopher has conducted numerous concerts at Buckingham Palace, Highgrove House and St. James's Palace. To mark the occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s 80th birthday at Kew Palace, he conducted a private concert for the entire Royal family. In 2005, he directed the Philharmonia Orchestra for the celebration of the marriage of HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and in 2008 he conducted at the 60th birthday celebration concert for HRH The Prince of Wales.