An Evensong to Remember

After a pleasant flight from Dubai, we touched down at Heathrow at 7:00 am. Customs was a breeze, and soon we were on the Tube, heading to Covent Garden and the Cameron London flat.

The afternoon was sunny so we decided to have a wander around to see what was happening at the historic St Martin-in-the-Fields (an easy 12 minute walk from the flat).

We were in luck: a Choral Evensong was scheduled to be broadcast live on BBC 3 at 3:00 pm.

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Located on the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields isn’t just known for its striking Baroque and Neo-classical architecture by James Gibbs (completed in 1726) — it’s also a notable cultural centre.

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Evensong

The music was divine: Anglican church music at its best.

St Martin’s Voices, led by Andrew Earis, comprised nine young singers. Their voices were fresh and pure, and they had excellent control and intonation. The balance and blending of sound, among the voices and with the organ, was first-class. They used the glorious acoustic to perfection.

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The organist, Polina Sosnina, was also excellent, particularly during two dramatic solos by Herbert Norman Howells. At times all the stops were literally pulled out and the building reverberated.

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A side note on acoustics: As musicians, we often think of our instruments as tools to ‘play’ the room. Too little force and the performance may seem underwhelming, too much and it becomes muddy and confused. But when everything is balanced, the space itself becomes an instrument, enhancing every note. The whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

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I was especially moved by two pieces by Lucy Walker, the church’s Composer-in-Residence in 2023–24. Her Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis premiered today and were very beautiful and moving. It’s clear that the tradition of Anglican church music is still vibrant and evolving.

Listen

What a fantastic start to our trip. This was definitely a highlight!

Stay tuned for more adventures on our European Odyssey!