Wholesome celebration of women and music
At Royal Albert Hall on 8 March 2026, Anna Lapwood and her special guests delivered an inspiring and thoughtfully curated evening for Anna Lapwood – International Women’s Day Concert, celebrating the work of women in music while showcasing the expressive power of the hall’s monumental organ.
Lapwood proved not only a remarkable performer but also an engaging guide throughout the evening. Acting as organist, MC and singer, she introduced each piece with passion and knowledge, helping the audience understand the symbolism and emotional context behind the music. Her explanations struck a perfect balance and made the programme accessible even to those unfamiliar with organ repertoire.
One of the evening’s highlights was a trio of works centred on themes of flight and dreaming. Rachel Portman’s Flight captured the effortless grace of birds soaring through the sky, with a melody that felt light and fluid. This was followed by Olivia Belli’s Limina Luminis, which Lapwood introduced as portraying the emotional mindset of an astronaut preparing for launch. The music beautifully conveyed the anxiety and anticipation of that moment from the gradual build-up of emotion before lift-off and the profound experience of seeing Earth from space for the first time. The sequence concluded with Dreamland by Kristina Arakelyan, a piece that gently bridged imagination and reflection. Together, these works formed a compelling narrative arc, exploring humanity’s fascination with flight from the natural grace of birds to the technological triumph of space travel.
The visual presentation also added another dimension to the performance. Screens inside the hall displayed close-ups of Lapwood’s playing, including shots of her footwork on the organ pedals. For many audience members, this offered an insightful glimpse into the complexity of organ performance. The lighting design further elevated the experience as it shifted in colour and intensity throughout the programme, echoing the mood of each piece and adding an additional layer of atmosphere to the performance.
The evening reached an epic scale with excerpts from Howard Shore’s organ symphony based on the score from The Lord of the Rings. Lapwood’s introduction gave helpful context to the themes before launching into a powerful and cinematic performance that filled the hall with a sense of grandeur and drama.Guest performers Jess Gillam and Katie Marshall were both excellent additions to the programme, bringing their own energy and artistry to the stage.
Overall, the concert was a celebration not only of the organ but of imagination, storytelling and the creativity of women in music.