This bespoke orchestra will perform at King Charles’s Coronation. But who will be joining the ranks of the Coronation Orchestra for one of the gigs of the century? <\/p>
The forthcoming Coronation of King Charles III is set to be a wonderful spectacle in so many ways. Not least the music, of which there will be plenty. The former Prince Charles was a keen supporter of classical music<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n On the programme are twelve newly-commissioned pieces of music, showcasing composers from across the UK and the commonwealth.<\/p>\n These include a new Coronation Anthem by\u00a0Andrew Lloyd Webber<\/a><\/strong>, and a Coronation March by Patrick Doyle<\/a>. <\/strong>We will also hear\u00a0a new work for solo organ embracing musical themes from countries across the Commonwealth by Iain Farrington<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Alongside these, there will also be new works by a range of contemporary British composers including Sarah Class<\/strong><\/a>, Nigel Hess<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Paul Mealor<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Tarik O\u2019Regan<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Roxanna Panufnik<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Shirley J. Thompson<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Judith Weir<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Roderick Williams<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Debbie Wiseman<\/a><\/strong>. The Coronation will feature, in total, 12 brand new works: six pieces for orchestra, five choral works and one instrumental work.<\/p>\n Elsewhere there will be more familiar coronation music by Edward Elgar<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0William Byrd<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0George Handel<\/a><\/strong>, as well as\u00a0Greek orthodox music<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in memory of the King\u2019s father,\u00a0Prince Philip<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> \u00a0<\/p>\n Formed especially for the ceremony, the Coronation Orchestra comprises a bespoke collection of musicians drawn from orchestras of the former Prince of Wales\u2019 Patronages. So what does that mean?<\/p>\n Well, as we noted in our article on King Charles\u2019 musical patronages<\/strong><\/a>, the monarch has previously served as patron on various orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, and the English Cahmber Orchestra. So expect to see members of these ensembles lining up in the Coronation orchestra.<\/p>\n One member of the orchestra we can be sure of is Alis Huws, <\/strong>the official Royal Harpist. The Welsh harpist will be performing \u2018in recognition of The King\u2019s long-standing and deeply held relationship and affiliation with Wales\u2019. One of the liturgical sections of the ceremony will also be performed in Welsh.<\/p>\n Among the other organisations which Charles has served as patron are\u00a0the\u00a0three Monteverdi ensembles<\/strong><\/a>: the Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists and Orchestre R\u00e9volutionnaire et Romantique. All three were founded by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and the first two will both be performing at the pre-Coronation concert.<\/p>\n The conductor will be Antonio Pappano<\/strong><\/a> (pictured top), who, as we reported, takes over as the London Symphony Orchestra\u2019s chief conductor<\/strong><\/a> in September 2024.<\/p>\nWhat music will feature at the Coronation?<\/h2>\n
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Who will be in the Coronation Orchestra?<\/h2>\n
Who will conduct the Coronation Orchestra?<\/h2>\n