The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

BCMG presents works by two outstanding British composers, forming another chapter in both artists’ long-established relationships with the Group.

The premiere of Howard Skempton’s substantial setting of Coleridge’s masterpiece The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written for Roderick Williams and BCMG, forms the second half of the concert. This is the second major commission for Skempton from friends and patrons Maurice and Sheila Millward; their first, Only the Sound Remains for viola and ensemble, was premiered to much acclaim in February 2010.

It’s always a delight to revive past BCMG commissions and Dominic Muldowney’s 2011 Sound Investment commission, a series of songs setting poetry by Thomas, Auden and Betjeman, is one of several works by the former Music Director of the National Theatre that form this evening’s first half. Complementing these will be three further settings – two of Shakespeare, and the world premiere of a song setting A E Housman’s Smooth between sea and land.