2027 is the 200th anniversary of the death of the artist, poet and prophet William Blake. British composer John Hawkins has been writing music inspired by Blakes art and writing for many years and this superb, timely new recording of many of these pieces features some of the finest instrumentalist in the UK including the London Piano Quartet (who premiered the title track Blake Visions in 2025), the Piatti string quartet, violist Zahra Benyounes and cellist Jessie Ann Richardson while the song cycle Portions of Eternity is given its first recording by celebrated soprano April Fredrick. Broadcasts of John Hawkins Blake-inspired music have included This World for choir and trumpets (BBC Singers), and Urizen for viola and piano. Other works by John Hawkins include a Sea Symphony which was broadcast twice by BBC orchestras and 'Simplicius. (Claudio CC6045) music for Clarinet and String Orchestra.

Artists

London Piano Quartet: Michael Trainor, London Piano Quartet, Zahra Benyounes (viola), Jessie Ann Richardson (cello), Simon Callaghan (piano), Michael Trainor (violin), Emily Holland, Zahra Benyounes - viola, Simon Callaghan - pianist, Piatti Quartet: Michael Trainor, Michael Trainor and Emily Holland violins, April Fredrick - soprano, Simon Callaghan - piano, April Fredrick, Jessie Ann Richardson - cellist, Piatti Quartet