Lineup

Paul Hindemith
six chansons
Henry Purcell
o god, thou hast cast us out
Alex Groves
new work
The Carice Singers
ensemble
William Byrd
though amaryllis dance in green
Hugh Cutting
countertenor
Michael Tippett
the windhover
George Parris
conductor
Orlando Gibbons
dainty fine bird

About the Event

The concert’s first half pays homage to Tippett’s innovations not just as a composer but also as a choral conductor, offering the kind of invigorating programmes he brought to life with the choir at Morley College during the darkest days of the Second World War. Countertenor Hugh Cutting joins the group for a hauntingly beautiful lullaby originally composed for Alfred Deller, which captures Tippett in the middle of a major stylistic shift during the late 1950s.

The second half consolidates Tippett’s continued status as a beacon for today’s composers, with the first performance of a new piece by Alex Groves, inspired by Tippett’s friendships with Barbara Hepworth and the composer Priaulx Rainier.

The Carice Singers’ new recording of Tippett’s unaccompanied choral music will be released on the same day and will be available to buy at the concert.

This event will last for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, including an interval.

About The Carice Singers

Recently described as “one of the UK’s most adventurous and accomplished choirs” (The Guardian) and “going where other choirs don’t” (The Arts Desk), The Carice Singers is committed to performing contemporary choral music and tracing its roots through musical history. Named after Elgar’s daughter, the choir offers new ways to honour the UK’s rich choral heritage in a way that frequently reaches out to other cultures and regularly collaborates with other performers as well as today’s composers.

About Hugh Cutting

Celebrated for the expressive power of his voice and adventurous musical choices, British countertenor Hugh Cutting is redefining the possibilities of his voice type on both opera and recital stages. A BBC New Generation Artist (2022–24) and the first countertenor to win the Kathleen Ferrier Award, he combines luminous vocal artistry with an instinct for musical storytelling. In the 2025/26 season, he makes house debuts as Arsace (Partenope) at English National Opera, Unulfo (Rodelinda) at Santa Fe Opera, and Tolomeo (Giulio Cesare) at The Grange Festival. He received the Rising Star Award at the 2025 International Opera Awards.