The Breath of Life

Lucis returns with a rich and varied programme centred on the music of Matthew Coleridge, featuring his new cantata The Breath of Life alongside the world premiere of Hymn of Man, and a new commission setting words by Kahlil Gibran. Together, these works form a powerful and reflective core, exploring humanity, stillness, and connection.

Around them sits a vibrant mix of contemporary choral writing, from the rhythmic energy of Kevin Padworski’s Hands - driven by body percussion and shifting metre - to the lyrical setting of She Walks in Beauty by Tim Snowden. George Dousis’ Annabel Lee, inspired by the poem of Edgar Allan Poe, brings a darker, atmospheric contrast with soprano and marimba, while music by Dan Forrest and Ola Gjeilo adds warmth and light. The programme also features a reflective arrangement of To Zanarkand from the hit video game Final Fantasy X and an original work by Francis Faux.