Henley Choral Society Spring Concert
With the City of London Sinfonia
Alison Langer, soprano
Ross Ramgobin, baritone
Richard Harker, conductor
City of London Sinfonia
Brahms | Ein Deutsches Requeim
Richard Strauss | Four Last Songs
Barber | Adagio for Strings
Henley Choral Society return to The Concert Hall with a star-studded concert, accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia.
Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem is a superbly tender work inspired by the deaths of two people dear to Brahms, his mentor Robert Schumann and his mother. Brahms was concerned with consoling the living – it is this spiritual empathy that makes what he called his “human Requiem” so moving for us today. It moves from grief and transience to consolation and hope. Strauss’ Four Last Songs weave radiant orchestral colours with serene reflections on life’s end, offering a luminous farewell where soprano voice and orchestra merge in timeless, transcendent beauty. Perhaps one of the most recognised pieces of music in the world, Barber’s Adagio for Strings’ long, lyrical lines and emotional depth have made it beloved by audiences and a favourite for use in film and television scores.
Alison Langer, Soprano
British-Irish soprano Alison Langer recently debuted with the Royal Ballet and Opera as Frasquita in Carmen. She has sung Violetta in La Traviata for Opera Holland Park and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and will return to OHP for a role debut in 2026. Praised for her “sparkly and vulnerable” Nedda in I Pagliacci, she has also sung Oscar, Micaëla, and Gilda for the company. Other roles include Countess and Adina (Waterperry), Musetta (Iford Arts), and appearances at Glyndebourne, where she returns to cover Mimì this autumn. She appeared on ITV’s Victoria as Jenny Lind and performed in the National Theatre’s Follies.
Ross Ramgobin, Baritone
British baritone Ross Ramgobin studied at Brunel University and the Royal Academy of Music, he gained his MA (in Vocal Studies) and his Advanced Diploma from Royal Academy Opera. Recent roles include Moralès (Carmen) for the Royal Ballet & Opera, Clive Green in Dove’s Uprising, Prosdocimo (Il turco in Italia) for Glyndebourne, Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), and Aurengazeb (Taj Mahal) for Grange Park Opera. He has appeared with major UK orchestras, and his recordings include Britten’s Canticles, Dvořák’s Rusalka, Handel’s Agrippina, and Stanford’s Requiem.
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia, founded in 1971 by conductor Richard Hickox, performs widely—from Messiah in St Paul’s Cathedral to serving as Opera Holland Park’s resident orchestra and championing new commissions. Committed to broad impact, they combine artistic excellence with community partnerships in concert halls, hospitals, care settings, and refugee centres. In 2020 they received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Impact Award for this work. Their flexible, world-class musicians bring music to life with connection and joy.