A WORLD premiere will be performed in Worcester as part of this year’s Elgar Festival.

Huntingdon Hall in the city will be the venue for a Lunchtime Song Recital on June 3 at 1pm, including the world premiere of John Joubert’s final composition.

Entitled ‘The Right Human Face’, this will be the first time the 2018 composition will be performed. 

John Joubert, who died in 2019, was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1927; his compositional career stretched over 70 years.

His catalogue includes over 180 opus numbers, ranging from operas, major orchestral works, concertos for oboe, bassoon, violin, cello and piano, chamber and instrumental music, through to short carols and anthems and a series of major choral-orchestral pieces that place him at the forefront of composers of the generation after Britten and Tippett.

Kenneth Woods, artistic director of The Elgar Festival said: “It is so exciting that we can announce a world premiere at this year’s Elgar Festival. 

"Bringing such performances to the city is made even more special since the lifting of the pandemic’s restrictions, allowing people to once again enjoy live music and performances."

Baritone Marcus Farnsworth and composer-pianist Eric McElroy will present the recital of English language song encompassing both new and familiar.

Selections of Edward Elgar and John Ireland will be featured alongside exciting new song settings of Alice Oswald, Oxford’s Professor of Poetry, and Gregory Leadbetter, Professor of Poetry at Birmingham City University.

The Elgar Festival will take place between Friday 3 June and Sunday 5 June.

This year’s festival will combine orchestral, chamber, vocal and choral concerts with exhibits and lectures to celebrate the life and music of Sir Edward Elgar at various venues in Worcestershire.  Entitled ‘Elgar for Everyone’, the Festival brings together an array of internationally renowned guest artists, placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

Tickets for the Lunchtime Song Recital cost £12 per person.

For a full list of events, costs and booking information, please visit www.elgarfestival.org.