Solitude

James Gilchrist's theme for this recital, Solitude, is reflected in varied and contrasting ways by the four works. In his booklet note, he describes solitude as 'A state of being that we need, that perhaps we overlook too easily, that is harder to achieve and harder to endure and understand than we expect'. Henry Purcell's O! Solitude, my sweetest choice (in the arrangement by Benjamin Britten) focuses on twin themes of solitude: the peace found in the meditative state and the pain felt by being separated from loved ones.