Having enjoyed the serious, sacred side of Francis Poulenc’s choral writing last April in performing his Quatres motets pour un temps de penitence, we now present an equally vivid and thoughtful secular perspective in the miniature choral cantata Un soir de neige. This was another collaboration with the pioneering surrealist poet Paul Eluard, with whom Poulenc had composed his masterpiece Figure humaine during the dark days of Nazi occupation. These four lesser-known vignettes display all Poulenc’s mastery of choral texture and unique harmony found in more significant works. Alongside we perform a set of six chansons by Paul Hindemith, settings of the poet Rainer Maria Rilke and choral songs by Venezuelan-born French composer Reynaldo Hahn. We are delighted to be joined in performance by talented senior musicians from Loughborough Schools Foundation, who will deliver solo instrumental and vocal interludes to our choral programme.

Tickets are: £15 Full price £12 Chorale Friends £10 NUS/U19 £5 U13