Beowulf Diary, 4 July 2017, Toby Young, composer

The oldest surviving poem in Old English, Beowulf is a fantasy saga which has inspired countless retellings of the myth, including Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Armonico Consort’s composer-in-residence Toby Young, who has previously worked with the likes of Duran Duran and The Rolling Stones, has set this touching epic drama to music. Written for soprano, choir, harp, keyboards and children’s choir, with strong folk-pop influences, and a gripping script from one of the authors of Have I Got News For You, Beowulf is an epic musical tale for all ages.

Watch Toby Young talk more about the project and what inspires him.