Our concert “Song Shards: From Darkness to the Light” presented works ranging from the late Romantic yearning of Verdi and Elgar to the 20th-century mysteries of John Tavener and Arvo Pärt.
Gabriella Swallow joined us for the London premiere of Colin Riley’s song cycle Roads Shining Like River Up Hill After Rain for solo cello, choir and vocal quartet. Riley’s settings of fragments of poetry by Edward Thomas, arranged by writer Robert Macfarlane into a sequence tracing a journey from the expansiveness of the South Downs to the ghostly no-man’s-land of the first world war where Thomas met his death, formed the centrepiece of our concert. For a recording of the performance, click here.
Here’s a selection of the comments about the concert from our audience:
An innovative and adventurous programme beautifully performed.
Pegasus creates a sound all of its own. Heavenly. Thank you!
Really exquisite – loved the Edward Thomas/Colin Riley.
An absolute delight! A beautifully compiled programme, excellent performances and an enchanting premiere! This concert was a treat!
Having come from Westminster Abbey for Battle of Britain Remembrance, this performance finished a day of sorrow and joy. Thank you very much.
Colin Riley talks to Pegasus about his new work
Matthew Altham rehearses Pegasus and cellist Gabriella Swallow