The overarching theme of this concert is settings of the Lamentations, enabling Peter Phillips and the acclaimed Tallis Scholars vocal ensemble to programme two of the greatest Renaissance settings, by Thomas Tallis and Robert White.

It also provides a great opportunity to give the world premiere of a major new commission by Nico Muhly. Taking Britten’s War Requiem as his model, Muhly has interwoven the words of people who have found themselves in exile, along with the words of the Israelites, who were equally driven into exile.

The remainder of the programme features music by William Byrd and Robert Fayrfax.

‘… as near extraterrestrial as you can get sitting in a concert hall…’ (The Observer on the Tallis Scholars)