BBC Proms 2018 English Elegy b0bch2t8, Hubert Parry: Symphony Gustav Holst: Ode to Death; violinist Tai Murray

Three of the most loved English composers, Hubert Parry, Gustav Holst and Vaughan Williams, reflect on a country transformed by war at the beginning of the 20th century. Parry, best known for his setting of national favourite Jerusalem, is celebrated with Symphony No 5, a work full of hope that paints a picture of England before the outbreak of the First World War. This peaceful idyll of England is echoed by another of the UK s most popular works, Vaughan Williams s The Lark Ascending, featuring American violinist Tai Murray. The second half of the evening evokes the shattering effect of the outbreak of the war Holst s Ode to Death and Vaughan Williams s Pastoral Symphony reflect both composers experiences of the horrors of the First World War. The BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales are conducted by Martyn Brabbins. Petroc Trelawny presents.