Arielle Loewinger directs Durham University Chamber Choir in choral music rooted in British poetry or composition in a concert that celebrates the enduring influence of William Shakespeare through music. The programme weaves together choral settings from Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Sonnet 18 with works by Edward Elgar, Gerald Finzi, Paul Mealor, and Rebecca Dale.

John Pickard’s Three Latin Motets anchor the program with their stark clarity and modern harmonic language. Drawing on sacred texts, they explore themes of light, rest, and love through a bold, architectural musical style that contrasts and complements the more lyrical Shakespearean settings.

Alongside these, the Nordic clarity of Jaakko Mäntyjärvi and the ethereal introspection of Ēriks Ešenvalds offer fresh reflections on English poetry, in a concert that is not only a tribute to Shakespeare, but a broader homage to poetry itself as a living source of music.