Roar of Hope (2026)

for soprano and orchestra

"It's haunting and mysterious and yet builds towards hope and confidence and joy, cutting through the noise of an otherwise uncertain world with a resolution like warm rain falling on your face." - Barry Laden MBE

instrumentation:

Soprano
Orchestra
3.3.3(b cl).3 / 4.3.3.1 / timp. / 2 perc / pno. hp / strings (12.10.8.6.4.)

duration: 8 minutes

premiere: July 02, 2026 Sir James MacMillan, conductor, Andrea Conangla, soprano, Gulbenkian Orchestra Grande Auditório of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal

Program Note

When presented with the opportunity to work with the incredible Gulbenkian Orchestra for their Composition for Voice and Orchestra Workshop with Sir James MacMillan, from the beginning I had a calling to write about hope and light. One doesn’t have to look very far to find the ever-present shadows of destruction, injustice and despair in our fragile world. I take hope to mean the ultimate embodiment of our humanity and a testament to the human spirit. Rather than something passive or wishful, I think hope is the strongest of strengths, and shines brightest in the darkness. With this in mind, I set about writing a text to try and bring to life all the color, complexity, highs, and lows of these feelings, and music that would do the same. Being a part of this project has been a privilege of a lifetime, and I’m absolutely humbled and honored to share this piece with you.

Rose Roberts

Cover art by: Barry Laden

Rose Robert

Sometimes i just miss crowds - painting by Barry Laden

Performances

Jul 02, 2026: Sir James MacMillan, conductor, Andrea Conangla, soprano, Gulbenkian Orchestra Grande Auditório of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal

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