Bedford: The Lark Ascending and Beethoven’s Sixth

Programme

Escape the busyness of modern life for an evening and find solace in music imbued with themes of nature.  

The musical themes of The Lark Ascending were conceived on the eve of the First World War and later orchestrated by Vaughan Williams after his return from the Western Front. It’s a stark, and perhaps needed, reminder of the still beauty of nature in the face of devastation. Crowned third place in Classic FM’s 2025 Hall of Fame, we follow the bird’s song and flight in the shimmering melodies of the solo violin. And tonight, we’re joined by Clara-Jumi Kang as our lark, a violinist praised by critics for her unwavering musical sensitivity.  

The dulcet tones of a lark are the perfect preface to Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony. Through 40 minutes of musical storytelling, Beethoven conjures up a countryside idyll with gently bubbling streams, birdsong, and ‘a merry gathering of country folk’ in the third movement. A dramatic, thunderous storm in the fourth movement leads to the breaking of sunlight and a return to the serene stillness of country life.