Chichester Cathedral is inviting audiences to discover the stories behind some of cinema’s most memorable music when Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman comes to the Cathedral this November.
Taking place on Saturday 21 November 2026, An evening with Rachel Portman: From film scores to choral music is a special fundraising event combining conversation, film clips and live performance, offering audiences an insight into Portman’s celebrated career as a composer.
Born in West Sussex, Rachel Portman has written music for more than 100 films and television productions, becoming the first female composer to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score for Emma. She has since written acclaimed scores for films including Chocolat, The Cider House Rules, The Duchess, One Day and Never Let Me Go.
Born in West Sussex, Rachel Portman has written music for more than 100 films and television productions, becoming the first female composer to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score for Emma. She has since written acclaimed scores for films including Chocolat, The Cider House Rules, The Duchess, One Day and Never Let Me Go.
The evening begins with Rachel sharing stories from her career in film, in conversation with Julian Biggs. Accompanied by clips from some of the films she has scored, she will explore the inspiration behind her music and the creative process involved in bringing a score together with a film. Rachel will also play the piano, giving audiences the opportunity to hear her music performed live.
Describing the evening, Rachel said: “This evening is really about lifting the lid.” The film clips will offer a chance to see scenes before and after music has been added and discover more about the choices that shape the finished film.
The second half of the evening sees the Chichester Cathedral Choir perform a selection of Rachel’s choral works alongside complementary repertoire, showcasing another side of her work as a composer. The programme will include The Darkling Thrush, The Gathering Tree, It Felt Love and We Were There.
Recent performances of Rachel’s choral music include The Gathering Tree at the BBC Proms’ Last Night of the Proms in 2025 and The Darkling Thrush at the Christmas Eve Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge in 2025.
Rachel has a longstanding connection with Chichester Cathedral, with the Cathedral Choir having previously performed her Magnificat Noctimitus, written when she was 25. She said she was delighted that the Choir would be performing her music again, describing them as “a fantastic choir” and the experience of hearing them sing in Chichester as “luminous.”
This fundraising evening supports the Chichester Cathedral Platinum Endowment Trust for Music (CCPETM), helping secure the future of music at Chichester Cathedral. The endowment supports the Cathedral Choir, choristers, Lay Vicars, Organ Scholars and the wider music programme. Rachel Portman is a Vice Patron of CCPETM and continues to live in Sussex, making this a special opportunity to welcome her to Chichester Cathedral.
Following last year’s fundraising evening with Sir John Rutter, the Cathedral continues to welcome audiences for special musical events that celebrate the power of music and support the future of its choral tradition.
Join us for an evening discovering the stories behind Rachel Portman’s music, from the cinema screen to live performance.
Event details:
- Date: Saturday 21 November 2026
- Time: 7.00pm - 8.50pm (doors open 6.00pm)
- Venue: Chichester Cathedral
- Tickets: £55 Front Nave, £45 Rear Nave, £20 side aisles