Patrick Hawes’ Eventide: In Memoriam Edith Cavell receives its London premiere
7th October 2015
Patriotism is not enough.
I must have no hatred.
These words are also inscribed verbatim on Edith Cavell’s statue near Trafalgar Square, and so the concert's location at St Clement Danes, The Strand is particularly appropriate.
The date of the performance is also highly significant, marking exactly 100 years to the day since Edith Cavell was executed by a German firing squad. Cavell is famous for helping Allied and enemy-force soldiers during World War One, help she provided without discrimination.
In a recent interview discussing the formation of Eventide, Patrick Hawes said that he made use of “material relating to the last days of Edith’s life including her letters, diary and text from The Book Of Common Prayer which was a constant companion.” He goes on to say that while writing the work, “certain phrases of the psalms and prayers leapt out at me – they’re given a new light in the shadow of her death. It’s extraordinary, as I wrote this piece of music I felt I’ve really got to know her from a spiritual point of view...I could almost feel her with me as I worked.”
After the interval Rupert Gough will conduct The Choir of Royal Holloway for their performance of Faurè’s Requiem. The Requiem has been picked to complement the Hawes’ Eventide, forming a programme of two pieces which lament the dead in their distinctive and individual ways.
To find out more about the concert and book tickets click here.
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