Principal Conductor Bramwell Tovey leads us in a programme featuring contemporary classical music, written and inspired by women composers and poets.

Emily Dickinson has long been an influence on Knotts and early in his career he set her poem ‘I shall keep singing!’ to music. Now this admiration finds expression in a concerto composed for superstar guitarist Craig Ogden, which he plays for an audience for the first time this evening.

Mezzo-soprano Tara Venditti performs Bryce Dessner’s song cycle, Voy a Dormir, using four poems by the trailblazing Argentine writer Alfonsina Storni.

We also celebrate some of the trailblazing female composers in film music, including performances of Debbie Wiseman’s soundtrack from ‘Wilde’ and Rachel Portman’s ‘Emma’.

The concert is presented and features poetry readings by award winning actress, Nina Wadia.