Walton: Belshazzar's Feast

"Belshazzar's Feast" is a large-scale choral-orchestral work composed by the English composer William Walton in 1931. Subtitled a cantata, it features parts for a baritone soloist, a massive mixed chorus, and a full symphony orchestra. The thrilling piece remains one of the most popular works in the English choral repertoire.

The piece features a libretto carefully assembled by Osbert Sitwell based on biblical texts from the Book of Daniel. It tells the dramatic story of King Belshazzar's lavish feast, the mysterious writing on the wall, and the subsequent fall of Babylon. The narrative focuses heavily on the themes of blasphemy and divine punishment.

The 1931 cantata requires a massive, augmented orchestra to handle its overwhelming climaxes. Uniquely, it calls for two brass bands, which include trumpets, trombones, and tubas, placed offstage to represent the enemy armies. The sheer scale of the orchestration makes it a favorite at the BBC Proms.

The work was originally commissioned by the BBC in 1929 for a general choral competition. However, as the scope of the composition grew to massive proportions, it proved far too difficult for amateur choirs. It instead premiered at the Leeds Festival in 1931 under the baton of Malcolm Sargent.