An excellent adventurous programme commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme – even if it didn’t quite keep to what Radio Times promised. But Butterworth’s Shropshire Lad rhapsody was an acceptable substitute for the song cycle of the same name. Such an evocative work, and how wonderfully Herbert Howells communicates the character of ‘Bunny’ Warren in his very moving Elegy written in his memory. It was enterprising to ring the changes in what might otherwise have been an all English/British programme and have a work by Roussel, a composer who deserves to be better known and whose 1920 Pour une fete de Printemps stands out starkly against other seasonal works such as Frank Bridge’s Summer in suggesting a lost era. A pity we couldn’t hear all Gordon Jacob’s First Symphony, but that was more than compensated by the opportunity of hearing Delius’s Requiem, especially in so compelling a performance as this one. The whole programme was well presented. A rewarding evening’s listening.