PLAY! Festival 2024

Embracing the essence of English poetry and song, Lingling Bao-Smith (soprano) and Ernest Lui (piano) will take you on a journey through the landscapes of emotion and imagination.

Beginning with Eric Thiman's poignant setting of Wordsworth's 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,' we drift through the beauty of nature's solace. Gerald Finzi’s song cycle 'Oh Fair to See' offers a lyrical exploration of love and longing, and intertwines delicate melodies with rich harmonic textures. In contrast to this, Benjamin Britten's whimsical and bitter-sweet cabaret song 'Johnny' follows, which depicts a brief yet vivid portrayal of childhood innocence and wonder, reminding us of the magic found in the simplest of moments. Michael Head's song cycle 'Over the Rim of the Moon' then transports us to realms of dream-like fantasy, with its enchanting melodies and ethereal harmonies inviting us to explore the mysteries of the night sky. Concluding our programme, Frank Bridge's 'Love Went A-Riding' swiftly sweeps us away on a two-minute journey of passion and exhilaration, its vibrant energy and dynamic rhythms capturing the thrill of romantic pursuit.

Come and join them this expedition into the landscapes of English song, where poetry and music intertwine to create moments of sublime beauty and profound emotion.

Car parking

When you arrive for a College event at our Egham campus, please park in car parks 12 or 4.

Car park 12 can be accessed by turning right as you enter the main College gates and is located next to the tennis courts. If this car park is full, please drive further onto our campus to car park 4, which can be accessed by turning left at the mini-roundabout behind the Students’ Union. We would advise that you bring the College map to campus with you and give yourself plenty of time to park.

Blue Badge holders can find designated parking spaces in Car park 1W, as well as between Gardeners Lodge and the Williams Annexe. You can find these locations by looking at our campus map opposite. If you require any assistance on arrival, please contact our premises team in advance of your visit by emailing: premisesadmin@royalholloway.ac.uk and they will be happy to help.

Please note that we operate an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system on certain parts of our campus, however if you are here for an organised event, parking is unrestricted for event guests in car parks 12, 4 or 14 (or display your blue badge permit if parking in a disabled bay). If you have any questions about parking, please email: premisesadmin@royalholloway.ac.uk