Thomas Gould violin

Guy Johnston cello

Britten Sinfonia

Max Richter Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

John Tavener The Protecting Veil

Britten Sinfonia opens CMF’s 2025/26 season with two contemporary classics of minimalism that reach across musical boundaries – both enjoying wide popularity and, between them, winning Mercury, Grammy, ECHO Classic and Gramophone awards.

Vivaldi’s familiar solo violin melodies are looped, fragmented and reimagined in Max Richter’s retelling of The Four Seasons. While Tavener, a convert to the Orthodox church, was inspired by a vision of the Mother of God spreading out her veil to protect a besieged nation. The expressive and meditative solo cello sings, weeps, and soars with chant-like melodies over glowing and sustained string harmonies.

‘[The Protecting Veil is] a transcendent work that elevates the soul and stirs profound contemplation.’ THE TIMES

‘Together [Britten Sinfonia and Guy Johnston] held the audience in rapt and solemn attention.’ NEW STATESMAN