Howells : Hymnus Paradisi
All Saints Church, Hove, BN3 3PB
Saturday 18th July 2026
Join Brighton Festival Chorus and the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra at All Saints Church, Hove on Saturday 18 July for a richly atmospheric programme exploring humanity’s relationship with nature, loss, and transcendence.
Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus’ : A beloved permanent fixture on the Classic FM Hall of Fame, this beautiful piece is based on the English folk song of the same name, it has become one of his best loved works, and was played at Vaughan Williams’ funeral in 1958.
Herbert Howells Elegy for Viola and String Orchestra – a poignant meditation on grief and remembrance, suffused with tenderness and introspection.
Nature’s Lament, an original work by students of BHASVIC. This powerful new piece reflects the urgency of the climate crisis through fresh, contemporary voices, offering both challenge and hope.
Howells’ Hymnus Paradisi. One of the most profound choral works of the twentieth century: Written in the shadow of personal tragedy, this extraordinary composition moves from darkness to radiant consolation, blending choir and orchestra in music of luminous beauty and spiritual depth.
"‘It is the blaze of a thousand suns in the Sanctus, it is a golden radiance in the penultimate chorus; and at last, to the words requiem sempiternam, it is the light of dawn.’ Frank Howes, Times music critic after first performance in 1950
Set within the stunning surroundings of All Saints, Hove, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of music that speaks to the heart, the present moment, and the enduring power of human creativity & hope.
Conductor : James Morgan
Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra
Brighton Festival Chorus
Brighton Festival Youth Choir
Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus’ : A beloved permanent fixture on the Classic FM Hall of Fame, this beautiful piece is based on the English folk song of the same name, it has become one of his best loved works, and was played at Vaughan Williams’ funeral in 1958.
Herbert Howells Elegy for Viola and String Orchestra – a poignant meditation on grief and remembrance, suffused with tenderness and introspection.
Nature’s Lament, an original work by students of BHASVIC. This powerful new piece reflects the urgency of the climate crisis through fresh, contemporary voices, offering both challenge and hope.
Howells’ Hymnus Paradisi. One of the most profound choral works of the twentieth century: Written in the shadow of personal tragedy, this extraordinary composition moves from darkness to radiant consolation, blending choir and orchestra in music of luminous beauty and spiritual depth.
"‘It is the blaze of a thousand suns in the Sanctus, it is a golden radiance in the penultimate chorus; and at last, to the words requiem sempiternam, it is the light of dawn.’ Frank Howes, Times music critic after first performance in 1950
Set within the stunning surroundings of All Saints, Hove, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of music that speaks to the heart, the present moment, and the enduring power of human creativity & hope.
Conductor : James Morgan
Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra
Brighton Festival Chorus
Brighton Festival Youth Choir
