Sunday 13 December 2026

Pre-concert talk: 6.30pm | Concert: 7.30pm

LSO St Luke’s 

National Symphony Orchestra 

Jonathan Darbourne - conductor

Locrian Singers 

Soloists

Johnny Herford, baritone 

Will Prior, countertenor 

Myrna Tennant, mezzo-soprano 

Edward Woodhouse, tenor 

Programme

Paul Honey - 'Pierrepoint: In the Balance' (world premiere)

Libretto by Gregory Warren Wilson

Interval 

Gabriel Fauré – Requiem

Experience the beauty and emotional power of Gabriel Fauré's much-loved Requiem, one of the most moving and enduring works in the choral repertoire.

The programme also features the world premiere of composer Paul Honey's dramatic new oratorio, Pierrepoint: In the Balance, with a libretto by Gregory Warren Wilson. Together, these contrasting works offer a compelling exploration of mortality, justice and redemption.

SPECIAL PRE-CONCERT DISCUSSION – 6.30PM

Chaired by David Olusoga 

Join acclaimed historian and broadcaster David Olusoga for a discussion exploring the story behind Pierrepoint: In the Balance and the historical and ethical questions surrounding the execution of Ruth Ellis.

Featuring:

Laura Enston – Ruth Ellis's granddaughter, advocate and campaigner.

Kerry Moscogiuri – CEO of Amnesty International UK.

Paul Honey – Composer.

Gregory Warren Wilson – Librettist.

Your concert ticket includes admission to the discussion.

With a libretto by Gregory Warren Wilson, Honey’s engrossing work takes place during the tense, claustrophobic night in 1955 before the execution of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom. 2026 marks the centenary of Ellis's birth. In July, King Charles III granted her a conditional pardon, replacing her death sentence with life imprisonment in recognition of the profound injustice of her execution.

The work imagines the psychological weight bearing down on her executioner, Albert Pierrepoint, as he makes his preparations. Pierrepoint later declared that his lifetime’s work had never prevented a murder.

Following this intense moral reckoning, Fauré’s Requiem offers a profound emotional shift. Where Honey’s oratorio confronts the stark reality of state-sanctioned killing, Fauré’s luminous masterpiece provides a serene space. Moving away from judgment, its peaceful, comforting setting serves as a transcendent prayer for the departed soul.