Three Performances of Silver Rose

In the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, three performances of Silver Rose occurred within a week. The first, a new version premiered by Newmains and District Brass Band, conductor Michael Marzella with featured baritone soloist Katrina Marzella and narrator Ian Sommerville, took place at Coltness Church Newmains on 12 October with the rather special introduction of bagpipes as the audience arrived. The concert was a project initiated in April 2017 when Liz met Michael Marzella at a talk in London, and they collaborated closely in the lead-up to the event and Liz was pleased to be able to share with the audience the music's context to date.

The second and third performances, by the RNCM Brass Band, conductor Peter Waffender and narrator Sam Snowden, were at the Royal Northern College of Music on 18 October and Regent Hall London on 19 October. Liz again spoke about Silver Rose prior to the performance, and was honoured to be joined by two descendants of the poet Isaac Rosenberg, whose words are an integral part of the work, including Bernard Wynick, Rosenberg's nephew, who also shared perspectives on the poet's work with the audience.