St Martin-in-the-Fields 300th Anniversary Concert

300 years of St Martin-in-the-Fields: Clive Myrie, Danielle de Niese and Aaron Azunda Akugbo lead a musical birthday celebration.

In 1726, King George II was on the throne, Voltaire sought asylum in Britain and Handel’s Alessandro was rocking the London stage. And in a part of London that wasn’t yet known as Trafalgar Square, a church was completed that would become the living heart of the capital’s spiritual and musical life. An evening like this comes only once every three centuries. Tonight, compered by Clive Myrie, St Martin-in-the-Fields’ own choir comes together with the orchestra that took its name from the church plus established and emerging stars of 21st century music – Danielle de Niese and Aaron Azunda Akugbo – for a pageant of music celebrating the 300th anniversary of the nation’s parish church.

Programme:
Philip Wilby The Ever-Open Door - Fanfare for St Martins (world premiere)
Handel Coronation Anthem; Zadok the Priest
Handel Piangerò la sorte mia (from Julius Caesar)
John Rutter Lord thou has been our refuge
Britten Prelude and Fugue for 18 Strings
Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music
Holst Suite from The Pageant of St Martins
Lucy Walker A Hymn to St Cecilia
Parry I was Glad

Performers:
Danielle de Niese soprano
Aaron Azunda Akugbo trumpet
Clive Myrie compère
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
St Martin’s Voices
Musicians from National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain