Three Shakespeare Sonnets

This commission was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Iceland and is dedicated to Hilmar Örn Agnarsson and The South Iceland Chamber Choir. The Three Shakespeare Sonnets was one of the first works that Tavener composed after serious illness in 2007. He wanted to pay tribute to his wife, Maryanna, who nursed him back to some degree of health, so he turned to the Shakespeare Sonnets and was delighted to find that they brought forth music once again, after having been silent for so long.