Dr Blighty – Letters Home – Philharmonia Orchestra

The Dr Blighty theme recalling Brighton’s Indian military hospitals during the Great War was well introduced by Art Malik paraphrasing the notes in the programme. He also read letters from Indian servicemen recuperating in Brighton which were both amusing and poignant. The five movements of ‘The Seasons of India’, a raga-inspired concerto for Indian violin composed by soloist Kala Ramnath, alternated with elegiac works evocative of the pre-war era: Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’ (Simon Blendis an outstanding violin soloist) and his ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis’ along with Butterworth’s ‘The Banks of Green Willow’. David Murphy conducted.

Dome Concert Hall, 28 May 2016

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