THE MUSIC

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​It is a highly accessible work, giving young people an avenue into music, singing and choral traditions by dipping into several genres including classical, musical theatre and barbershop. It tells a lively environmental story with witty and meaningful words and melodies that are a joy to sing! ​The composition consists of 4 parts:

​Overture
The Beginning - solo orchestra.
​
3 Songs
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Pictures of Life
evokes the wonderful variety of creatures on our planet, where students can sing together, have fun and grow in confidence.
​
Save Our World
includes four solo parts; Eagle, Polar Bear, Bird, Gaia (the Earth) while a barbershop quartet provides the voice of ‘avaricious bipeds’ (greedy humans),  giving pace and humour to the serious message. Animals and sea creatures are performed by groups of singers.
​
Tomorrow's Child
​a soaring anthem of hope that honours the achievements of the human race, and the vision that the next generation will unite to preserve the natural world.
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We feel that spreading positive messages through music and the arts is a great way to help teach children values such as protecting the environment, caring for animals and of course, each other. With the world facing so many challenges we need more initiatives such as Pictures of Life

Brian May & Anita Dobson

The barbershop quartet performed by A Cut Above

This wonderful concert shines a light on all the things that matter most in the world: nature, music, compassion, interconnectedness and hope. I think the flame that it will ignite in young hearts will never be extinguished as we all face the future together with courage, optimism and above all kindness.
​
Joanna Lumley

Eagle performed by Rodney Earl Clarke, baritone

About the composer

​Pictures of Life composer and lyricist Lionel Oscar Segal was born in Glasgow, and has enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in a range of creative fields working with true legends of music, film and fashion.
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Lionel won a nationwide song writing competition aged 17, and at 18 gained a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. In his first year he wrote a musical version of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel Little Women and Good Wives. Many years later, Little Women: The Musical was re-imagined as a concert performance for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, where it premiered with an all-star cast, narrated by Sandi Toksvig. The production then ran successfully at the Lost Theatre, Vauxhall, and was nominated as “Best New Musical” in the Off West End Theatre Awards in 2012.
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The composer has gifted Pictures of Life for free performance in schools in the UK with the aim of inspiring young students to gain confidence, engage with choral song and take part in creating a better future for the world. 

Lionel Segal

I have just listened to Pictures of Life and was bowled over! The piece was inspiring, moving one to joy and sadness. It deserves to be widely performed.

Sir Richard Dales KCVO CMG
Former Ambassador To Norway
& High Commissioner To Zimbabwe

Premiere of the Work

Pictures of Life was launched at Kings Place, London, on 26th October 2015.
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The event was a choral and orchestral performance of the work featuring the Ascolta Choir, the Finchley Children’s Music Group (age 9-15) and the 15-piece Pictures of Life Orchestra conducted by Peter Broadbent, together with four soloists: baritone Rodney Earl Clarke, bass Richard Wiegold, soprano Eloise Irving and mezzo-soprano Hannah Poulsom, plus the barbershop quartet ‘A Cut Above’.
 
The Artistic Director for the concert was award winning Martin Constantine, founder and director of ENO Opera Works.
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The event was held in support of 21st Century Tiger which raises funds for wild tiger conservation projects. 

The 2021 Festival Production at Holy Trinity Sloane Square

Pictures of Life was chosen as the flagship work in the 2021 Arts & Crafts Festival at Holy Trinity Sloane Square where it was performed with orchestra, soloists, barbershop and a children’s chorus from Christ Church and Holy Trinity Primary Schools, Chelsea and More House School. The production included the premiere of a contemporary dance performance to accompany the music. 
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21st Century Tiger was delighted to be asked to take part in the launch of Pictures of Life. It was an inspiring evening with an important message that needs to be sung from the rooftops. The whole evening was a triumph and we wish Lionel and his team every success with broadening the reach of this important work.

Esther Conway
​21st Century Tiger

Polar Bear performed by Richard Wiegold

Pictures of Life is unique 'must see must hear' music which carries a vital message to all generations that is more important now than ever before.

​Nigel Heath

Early Previews

Pictures of Life was first previewed at St Pancras International Station with a young amateur choir and keyboard accompaniment. Later the same day, Steven Edis conducted the choir and an 11-piece ensemble at the Camden Centre in aid of the World Land Trust (Patron: Sir David Attenborough).