Derby to hear world premiere of choral music written 80 years ago. 

On Saturday 21 March, Derby Cathedral will host the world premiere of a piece of choral music written 80 years ago, when we are joined by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir to perform the Festival Anthem by British composer Imogen Holst.  

As Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, Imogen Holst (1907-1984) was a significant figure of 20th century British classical music. She was also the daughter of composer Gustav Holst, whose famous The Planets suite we performed at Derby Cathedral in 2023.  

However, in Imogen Holst’s lifetime her own music was not given the recognition it deserved and is only recently being rediscovered and widely performed. The Festival Anthem is a musical setting of Psalm 104, written in 1946 but never performed live in concert. In 2022, the original score was prepared for a string orchestra by Colin Matthews, and it is this orchestral version that Sinfonia Viva premiere in Derby.  

Conductor Alice Farnham has been a leading advocate of Imogen Holst’s music, including recording the album Discovering Imogen with BBC Concert Orchestra in 2024. 

She says: 

“In this concert we’ve got Imogen Holst right at the heart of it, finally getting the recognition she really deserves. She’s famous because she is the daughter of Gustav Holst, one of our most beloved composers. But she was a fabulous composer in her own right, who was also a passionate believer in music education. In the 20th century I can’t think of anyone who did more to shape the rich musical environment we have today. The Festival Anthem was found very recently and it was just in a drawer. We don’t know anything about it, we don’t even know why she wrote it because it’s never had a performance. It’s very exciting to be finally performing this piece.” 

Our concert, entitled The Holsts: Father and Daughter, pairs Imogen’s music with St Paul’s Suite by her father, Gustav, and music by other defining 20th century composers, Britten and Elgar.  

The concert reflects our ambition to bring a wide range of orchestral music to Derby, from well-known favourites like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to rediscovered gems such as the Festival Anthem. 

Sinfonia Viva Chief Executive, Lucy Galliard, said: 

“We are thrilled to bring the world premiere of Imogen Holst’s Festival Anthem to Derby Cathedral, a piece that has waited 80 years to be heard. This performance is not just a celebration of Imogen Holst’s remarkable talent, but also a testament to the enduring power of rediscovered music. Thanks to the generous support of the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme, we are able to shine a light on the work of historical women composers and share their legacy with new audiences. This concert reflects Sinfonia Viva’s commitment to presenting both beloved classics and hidden gems, enriching Derby’s cultural landscape with music that inspires and connects us all.” 

The performance of Festival Anthem is made possible with funding from the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme, a ten-year initiative to support the performance and promotion of music by historical women composers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Holsts: Father & Daughter 

Saturday 21st March 2026, 7pm, Derby Cathedral 

Elgar | Introduction & Allegro for Strings 
Gustav Holst | St. Paul’s Suite    
Imogen Holst | Variations on Loth to Depart    
Imogen Holst | Allegro Assai  
Britten | Simple Symphony        
Imogen Holst | Festival Anthem       

Conductor | Alice Farnham 
Chorus Director | Julian Wilkins 
Sinfonia Viva
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir 

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