A Gala for the Lifeboats

The Salomon Orchestra is delighted to be joining the Bournmouth Symphony Chorus (BSC) again at the Lighthouse Arts Centre in Poole on July 11, 2026, for a Gala concert dedicated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and those who serve within it.

The programme is inspired by the power and majesty of the ocean, including the World Première of Paul Carr’s A Beacon of Hope. Dedicated to the volunteers of the RNLI, A Beacon of Hope is a powerful setting of “The Lifeboat Prayer” for soprano and baritone soloists, mixed voice choir, and orchestra. This landmark performance will feature the BSC, the Bath Minerva Choir, and the Salomon Orchestra, conducted by Gavin Carr (the composer’s brother).

Complementing the premiere are two of the most iconic “sea” works in the British repertoire, completing the evening’s maritime theme.

Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from his opera Peter Grimes are orchestral portraits—Dawn, Sunday Morning, Moonlight, and Storm—originally written to depict the atmosphere of a Suffolk coastal village. The music captures the sea as a constant presence, shifting from the shimmering tranquillity of a morning tide to the terrifying force of a coastal tempest. This ferocity serves as a vivid reminder of the dangerous environments in which RNLI crews operate.

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony for chorus and orchestra provides a grand symphonic tribute to the ocean. Setting the poetry of Walt Whitman, the symphony opens with a spectacular brass fanfare and the famous choral cry, “Behold, the sea itself”. Across its four movements, including “A Song for All Seas, All Ships,” the piece explores the physical and spiritual mystery of the waters, celebrating the unnamed heroes and intrepid sailors of all nations.

By bringing these works together in the coastal setting of Poole, the Gala offers a profound musical tribute to the RNLI’s life-saving mission.

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