Corvus Consort teams up with violinist Fenella Humphreys to present an exploration of artistic responses to the poetry of 17th-century metaphysical poet George Herbert.
The first half of the programme reveals how George Herbert’s words have inspired multiple generations of contemporary composers, through Herbert settings by Judith Weir, James MacMillan, Alec Roth and Nathan James Dearden, with readings of Herbert’s poetry nestled amongst the music. Solo violin interjections will connect some of the pieces, before violin and choir join forces in a new work by Alec Roth commissioned specially for this programme. Corvus Consort is grateful for the support of the Fidelio Charitable Trust in commissioning this work.
The second half illuminates Herbert’s influence not only on composers, but on other poets as well, through two intertwined works by Alec Roth. The six movements of Shared Ground set poems by Vikram Seth, each modelled on a particular poem by Herbert, and inspired by Seth’s experience of living in the same house where Herbert wrote much of his poetry nearly 400 years earlier.
Roth composed Shared Ground while staying in the very same house (house-sitting for Vikram Seth!), and the influence of George Herbert is strikingly tangible throughout both words and music. Roth’s trademark evocative harmony, imaginative word-setting and liquid vocal lines combine to create a sparkling work, alternately brimming with energy and floating in magical stillness. As well as Seth’s poems, Roth also sets the four-line inscription George Herbert had set into the wall of his house – the same text used by James MacMillan for his To My Successor which appears in the first half of the programme.
While staying at the house, Roth also composed Ponticelli (‘Little Bridges’), a charming partita for solo violin, where each movement is inspired by one of the five bridges in the grounds of the house. Roth intended the two works to be performed together with the movements interspersed, and that is how they are presented in this programme. When performed in this way, the six movements of Shared Ground are beautifully connected by the five bridges of Ponticelli.
About Corvus Consort…
Founded and directed by Freddie Crowley, Corvus Consort is a UK-based vocal ensemble comprising some of the country’s finest young professional singers. Described as “dazzling” and “always full of fresh thinking” by BBC Music Magazine, Corvus’s combination of musical excellence, passionate performance and imaginative presentation makes them hugely popular with audiences nationwide. In addition to frequent appearances as an a-cappella ensemble, Corvus places emphasis on its instrumental collaborations. Ongoing projects include upper voices and harp with Louise Thomson, voices and saxophones with the Ferio Saxophone Quartet, and contemporary explorations of Renaissance soundworlds with instrumental duo Music on the Edge.
In collaboration with the Ferio Saxophone Quartet, Corvus Consort released its debut CD Revoiced in July 2022 on Chandos Records, to great acclaim. Revoiced explores the magical blend of voices and saxophones, bringing new colours to early music, recasting contemporary choral works into a fresh sonic landscape, and inspiring the creation of new music. Corvus’s second disc for Chandos, Welcome Joy, a celebration of women’s voices in collaboration with harpist Louise Thomson, was released in 2024, again receiving high praise across the critical press. It was selected as BBC Radio 3 Essential Classics ‘Album of the Week’ and by BBC Music Magazine as both ‘Recording of the Month’ and as one of the 13 best classical albums of 2024 in its year-end review.
Alongside their dynamic performances of core vocal repertoire, Corvus has quickly developed a strong track record of championing new music and commissioning some of the most exciting composers in the UK and beyond. Christmas 2020 saw the ensemble undertake a festive project entitled ‘Twelve Composers Composing’ featuring twelve miniature carols by emerging composers. Corvus’s most recent new music project ‘Byrd Takes Flight’ commemorated William Byrd’s 400th anniversary in 2023 with four new commissions for voices and instruments in collaboration with Music on the Edge.
Particular highlights of recent seasons have included Corvus’s debut at the Three Choirs Festival, Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil at Exeter Cathedral, and a Bach programme alongside violinist Rachel Podger. Since its inception in 2020, Corvus has enjoyed performances for series and festivals across the UK including London’s Kings Place, Chiltern Arts Festival, Church Stretton Arts Festival, Dorchester Arts, Little Missenden Festival, Kings Lynn Festival, Music on the Quantocks and Summer Music in City Churches, as well as an ongoing position as Ensemble-in-Residence at Devon’s Whiddon Autumn Festival since the inaugural festival in 2021.
About Fenella Humphreys…
Fenella, winner of both the 2025 and 2023 BBC Music Magazine Premiere Recording Award, has attracted critical admiration and audience acclaim with the grace and intensity of her remarkable performances.
With her playing described in the press as “alluring”, “unforgettable” and “a wonder”, Fenella is one of the UK’s most established and versatile violinists, having also won the 2018 BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award. She enjoys a busy career combining chamber music with solo work, performing in the most prestigious venues around the world and is frequently broadcast on the BBC, Classic FM, Scala Radio and international radio stations.
Fenella performs widely as a soloist. Her recent album of Sibelius’ solo works with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and George Vass has been featured in BBC Radio 3’s Building a Library, Gramophone Magazine’s Guide to the Concerto, and was Album of the Week on Scala Radio. BBC Music Magazine has written of the recording: “it takes an unusually fine artist to be able to bridge the two extremes. Fenella Humphreys’ playing is a genuine revelation in the way it brings out the music’s dark and introspective qualities, with no shortage of technical panache meanwhile.”
Fenella has given the first performances of scores by a vast range of composers, most notably Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sally Beamish, Gordon Crosse, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Freya Waley-Cohen and Adrian Sutton. In June 2023, Fenella premiered a new violin concerto, dedicated to her by Adrian Sutton, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Fenella subsequently recorded the work, with the BBC Philharmonic and Michael Seal, for Chandos Records, with The Strad noting upon its release “Humphreys brings to her endlessly unfurling violin lines a taut, silvery weightlessness. The recording beautifully captures her duets with woodwind, and a tremendous dynamic range…” The disc went on to win the 2025 BBC Music Magazine Premiere Recording Award.
Fenella’s latest recording on Rubicon Classics, Prism, revisits the medium of unaccompanied violin repertoire – from new music written by young British composers to iconic recent works by Caroline Shaw, Jessie Montgomery and George Walker, with Fenella’s new arrangement of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue BWV565 at its heart. Immediately picked up by BBC Music Magazine as their June ‘Instrumental Choice’, the album is described by them as “a hugely accomplished release, fearlessly and vibrantly performed…” (BBC Music Magazine).
Throughout the 2025/26 season, Fenella is resident at Wigmore Hall as part of a three-concert series where she is exploring a variety of solo and chamber violin repertoire.
For the launch of Apple Music Classical in April 2023, Fenella was one of a handful of artists invited to record a ‘Classical Session’ at home, alongside Daniel Barenboim, Beatrice Rana and Gautier Capuçon.
Fenella is grateful for the support of the Royal Philharmonic Society, Harriet’s Trust and Arts Council England for their support to keep making music during the Covid Pandemic. Fenella plays on a G.B. Guadagnini violin kindly on loan from Jonathan Sparey.
Corvus Consort have a Website 
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Fenella has a Website .
