On Saturday November 21, Chichester Cathedral welcomes Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman for An evening with Rachel Portman: From film scores to choral music, a fundraising event in support of music at the Cathedral.
The first half of the evening sees Portman in conversation about her career and creative process, illustrated with clips from the films she has scored. She will also perform at the piano, exploring how music helps tell stories and illuminate characters on screen.
The focus then turns to her choral music, with Chichester Cathedral Choir performing works including The Darkling Thrush, The Gathering Tree and We Were There. The choir will also give the world premiere of Portman’s new work It Felt Love, a setting of the 14th-century Persian poet Hafez. The short poem reflects on a rose opening its heart to the world, encouraged by light to overcome fear. Portman will be in attendance.
Portman’s choral music has received increasing attention in recent years. In 2025 The Gathering Tree was premiered at the Last Night of the BBC Proms, while The Darkling Thrush was included in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge.
Born in West Sussex, Portman is a Vice Patron of the Chichester Cathedral Platinum Endowment Trust for Music, which supports the future of music at the Cathedral, including its choir, choristers, Lay Vicars and Organ Scholars. The evening forms part of the Trust’s current fundraising campaign.
Saturday 21 November 2026, 7.00pm
Chichester Cathedral
Find out more and get your tickets here.
