Antarctica: Vaughan Williams and Arvo Pärt

Antarctica: Vaughan Williams and Arvo Pärt invites you on a sonic journey into the frozen heart of the world. The Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Joanna MacGregor, brings to life the lush, evocative score that the composer wrote for the 1948 film *Scott of the Antarctic* and later transformed into his seventh symphony, *Sinfonia antartica* – a brooding, genius masterpiece that continues to enthrall audiences with its uncanny, terrifying beauty. The night is elevated by expressive soprano Elizabeth Watts, a national treasure whose soaring voice has been praised as “floating and heavenly,” and the powerful, ethereal voices of the Brighton Festival Chorus. Next, the film turns to Arvo Pärt’s haunting 2006 work *La Sindone*, a strikingly dramatic piece that captures the frozen image of Christ on the Turin shroud with fragile, mysterious grace. The program then glides into Sibelius’ poetic *Swan of Tuonela*, deftly bridging to Jonny Greenwood’s luminous composition *Water*—a fluid, electric piece for strings, flutes, and Bishi’s evocatively resonant tanpura inspired by Philip Larkin’s poem. The charismatic pop artist Bishi credits the music with adding an elemental layer of intrigue. Complementing this sonic tapestry, filmmaker Kathy Hinde delivers stunning live visuals that deepen the introspective exploration of man against implacable nature. As The Times celebrated the evening’s “flawless musicality and extraordinary passion,” and The Arts Desk called Elizabeth Watts “a national treasure among singers…floating and heavenly,” this concert film promises an unforgettable, immersive experience. Join us for a breathtaking celebration of music that is both starkly beautiful and profoundly rich.