Promise of Freedom Concert at Washington National Cathedral April 21

The Legatum Institute and the City Choir of Washington will be presenting the world premiere of 'Three Hymns of George Herbert' at the Washington National Cathedral on April 21st at 4:00 pm.Sir John Tavener's choice of three works by the early 17th century poet George Herbert take us back to an earlier chapter in the transatlantic story - the time when religious and political radicals fled the Church and State establishment of England in order to embrace the freedom promised in the new American colonies.The City Choir of Washington will be joined by the Shenandoah Conservatory Choir, and the City Choir Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Shafer. The concert will also include compositions by Bernstein, Handel, Parry, Stanford, Vaughan Williams and Whitacre, pieces that were performed at the Queen's 1953 Coronation. To purchase tickets and for further information, click here or visit the National Cathedral's website. Sir John Tavener is one of the best known and regarded composers of his generation. He was knighted in 2000 for his services to music. One of Tavener's most popular and frequently performed works is his short unaccompanied four-part choral setting of William Blake's The Lamb, written in 1982. Later prominent works include The Akathist of Thanksgiving (1987, written in celebration of the millennium of the Russian Orthodox Church); The Protecting Veil (first performed by cellist Steven Isserlis and the London Symphony Orchestra at the 1989 Proms); and Song for Athene (1993, performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997). Following Diana's death he also composed and dedicated to her memory the piece Eternity's Sunrise, based on poetry by William Blake. For more information, please visit www.johntavener.com.About the Promise of Freedom SeriesThe Promise of Freedom is a series of lectures and events exploring the vital role liberty has played in British and American cultural and social thought. The Promise of Freedom marks the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Her Majesty the Queen. The series also features events with Grey Gowrie, poet, former Cabinet Minister and company Chairman, Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery in London, Dame Harriet Walter, British actress, and Lieutenant-General Simon Mayall, Senior Advisor Middle East, Ministry of Defence.