Bournemouth Symphony Chorus return to their home venue to premiere an exciting new work by composer Paul Carr at Lighthouse Poole on Sunday 9 June.

Scored for Tenor Solo, Mixed Voice Choir, Youth Choir and Orchestra, Awakening is a spiritual choral work based at Stonehenge, near Salisbury. In setting 16 spiritual poems by Stephen Feltham, the piece portrays the cycle of hope experienced by humanity as it progresses through the celestial cycle exhibited by the equinoxes and solstices.

The work is in four main sections: Spring Equinox; Summer Solstice; Autumn Equinox; Winter Solstice.

“I have always been drawn to the four seasons and was delighted to see that in writing his celestial cycle, Awakening, the seasons are ever-present as a kind of spiritual guide for humankind in Stephen’s powerful setting,” says Paul Carr.

“I felt very drawn to this spiritual journey; a journey that is true to all of us as human beings on this earth – a necessity to be in touch with our world, with nature, and above all with humanity; a journey of acceptance, love, and a common embracement which is as necessary now as it has always been, perhaps even more so in these disturbingly dark times we presently inhabit. This is a Cycle of Hope.”

Conducted by Gavin Carr, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus will be joined by Salisbury Musical Society, Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with soloist, tenor Sam Furness.

The programme also includes Hymn by Thomas Tallis, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and C H H Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens.

Tickets are on sale now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/awakening-the-cycle-of-hope/.