Interview: Performing A Sea Symphony
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With over 200 orchestral musicians and choral singers behind you, performing the soprano and baritone solos in Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony is no mean feat.
Royal College of Music students Madeline Boreham and Redmond Sanders took on this challenge in October, appearing alongside the RCM Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and conductor Adrian Partington.
The hour-long work, Vaughan Williams’ first symphony, was written over a period of six years from 1903 to 1909. The piece has influences from church music, folk melodies, and harmonies reminiscent of Ravel, with vast choruses animating the words of American poet Walt Whitman.
The performance in October marked the conclusion of the RCM’s celebrations for the composer’s 150th anniversary.
Madeline and Redmond tell Upbeat about their experience of performing A Sea Symphony, and their favourite moments in the piece (as well as its challenges).
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If you missed A Sea Symphony, watch the full performance on our YouTube channel:
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Visit www.rcm.ac.uk/events to find out more about forthcoming performances and livestreams.
