A Beautiful Thread – Thomas Hardy In Words & Music With Anton Lesser

Orchestra of the Swan marks 150 years since the first publication of Far From the Madding Crowd, by celebrating Thomas Hardy in his own words, poetry, novels, and music with a one-night only performance,  A Beautiful Thread – Thomas Hardy in Words and Music, at The Courtyard, Hereford on Thursday 19 September 2024.

Starring the Swan’s Associate Artist for 2024/2025, acclaimed actor Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, Wolf Hall, Endeavour), along with Lucia Bonbright.

A Beautiful Thread weaves Hardy’s life – dramatic as any of his books – with his beautiful poetry and great novels, including Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure.

The Swan’s Artistic Director, David Le Page, has devised a musical programme of shimmering beauty – a Mellstock folk band style, that combines West Gallery Music from the village churches of the 1840’s with Holst, Finzi and contemporary folk.