Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem
Barts Choir presents 20th century classics by Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninov and Poulenc – works all influenced by, yet rising above, the shadow of war.
Vaughan Williams had served in the First World War, and Dona Nobis Pacem is his response both to the horror of the first and the looming threat of a second, culminating in a joyous vision of the ending of war through reconciliation between people and nations.
The angels’ song ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace’, which concludes the work, is also the starting point for the Latin Gloria, set by Poulenc in 1959. Though a largely tuneful and upbeat work, its more meditative and anguished moments are perhaps coloured by Poulenc’s personal experience of the loss of friends (which had turned him back to his Catholic faith), and of living in German-occupied Paris.
Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, his last major orchestral work, was written in the US in 1940. It uses a large orchestra to brilliant effect, but like many of his later compositions also betrays a yearning for his native Russia, which he had been forced to flee following the 1917 Revolution.
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ivor Setterfield conductor
Jennifer Witton soprano
Ross Ramgobin baritone
Barts Choir
Repertoire
Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
Poulenc: Gloria
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
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Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.