Jerwood Hall
Vaughan Williams and his Circle: Kitty Whately & William Vann
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 26 February 2026 • 1pm
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
Four Poems by Fredegond Shove; The Sky Above the Roof; Four Last Songs
Rebecca Clarke
Return of Spring; Colour of Life; Tears; The Seal Man
Elizabeth Maconchy
In Fountain Court; Ophelia’s Song; The Woodspurge
Grace Williams
Black-Eyed Susan from ‘The Billows of the Sea’
Kitty Whately mezzo-soprano
William Vann piano
The concert will finish at approximately 2.05pm.
Tickets
£16 (£14 concessions, £6 under-18s)
+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction
Save on Your Booking
Multibuy Discounts: Book 3 or more concerts, save 20%
Discounts for 18s-and-under and full-time students
Groups of 10+ save at least 20%
Free companion tickets for Barbican Access Members
Full details
The Concert
Love, loss and the depths of the sea are explored in this exquisite programme of British songs.
The Music
Ralph Vaughan Williams’ long and varied career is beautifully represented by these songs, dating from 1908 until the last year of his life, 50 years later. The lyrical, sometimes melancholy poetry of two women are among the inspirations: his niece Fredegond Shove, and his second wife Ursula.
Elizabeth Maconchy’s songs range from the delicate to the pastoral to the deeply disconcerting, especially in the enigmatic ‘The Woodspurge’. Rebecca Clarke’s famous ‘The Sealman’, meanwhile, is downright terrifying. It keeps company with three earlier songs, evocative settings of translations from Chinese poetry. Grace Williams, in her comfort zone of music about the sea, sets John Gay’s poem Black-Eyed Susan.
The Performers
Mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately and pianist William Vann are both well-known for curating fascinating programmes, often featuring lesser-known works. This intriguing sequence of songs is a perfect example.
Change of Programme
Please note that, in a change to early listings, Kitty Whately and William Vann will now perform ‘Black-Eyed Susan’ from The Billows of the Sea by Grace Williams, instead of ‘Rosabelle’.
Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Booking and Discounts
Booking Your Tickets
Online at lso.co.uk
By phone on +44 20 7870 2500 (Monday to Friday 12–5.30pm)
In person at the Barbican Centre (no booking fee)
Refunds and Exchanges
Contact the Box Office at least 24 hours before the performance (two weeks for group bookings) to exchange your tickets for another LSO concert or Barbican credit voucher, valid for twelve months. A per-ticket administration fee applies.
The LSO reserves the right to change artists or programmes if necessary. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, all bookers will receive a refund.
Questions About Your Booking?
Contact the Box Office at tickets@barbican.org.uk.
Visit the Barbican website for conditions of sale.
All discounts are subject to availability and may not be combined.
Multibuy Discount
Save 20% when you book three or more BBC Radio 3 concerts in the 2025/26 season within one transaction.
Retain your discount for any later bookings within the season.
Concessions
£14 tickets for over-60s, full-time students and unwaged/unemployed people.
18 and Under
£6 tickets. Book online, by phone or in person.
BBC Radio 3 Concerts are recommended for ages 12+. For younger children, we have a range of other events at LSO St Luke’s, including Free Friday Lunchtime Concerts which are suitable for everyone over the age of 5.
Groups of 10+
Save 20%, or 30% when booking two or more concerts in the same season. Find out more about group booking.
Access Members
Members of the Barbican’s Access Scheme can book wheelchair places priced at the lowest price for that event and book a free companion seat. Join the Barbican Access Scheme.
Your Visit and Access
Getting to LSO St Luke's
The main entrance to LSO St Luke’s is through the gates from Old Street. Please check the doors open time for your chosen concert.
What to Expect
From the concert experience to venue facilities and the Hawksmoor Space, find out what to expect at LSO St Luke’s.
Accessibility
At LSO St Luke’s we are fully committed to making the venue as accessible as possible.
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