November 22, 2026 falls at a rare convergence of anniversaries: the Feast of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music; Benjamin Britten's birthday; and the fiftieth year since his death.
This concert marks the occasion with music at the center of Britten's choral legacy, curated by Emmanuel Choir member Sonya Knussen — composer, music educator, and daughter of Oliver Knussen, who served as co-artistic director of Britten's Aldeburgh Festival from 1983 to 1998. That connection runs deep: Britten had taken an early and generous interest in the elder Knussen's work, and Sonya's curation therefore carries genuine artistic inheritance.
The program traces a living lineage, from Frank Bridge, Britten's teacher, to Colin Matthews, his last assistant, with Britten's own Rejoice in the Lamb and Hymn to St. Cecilia — his radiant tribute to the patron of this feast — at its heart. Sonya Knussen also offers a world premiere, bringing a living voice into dialogue with a towering legacy.
Sonya Knussen, curator & featured composer
Karl Robson, organ
Christian Lane, direction