I’m sorry to come late to the party Judith. But, why does your presentation have to be “animated by a love of the music itself” when it could equally well be driven by dislike? In the circumstances it’s probably easier for you to express why it doesn’t work for you as a piece. Did the tutor say that you had to present a positive view?
Actually I quite like the way the singer’s voice plays off against the violins and wind instruments to create a sense of tense sadness. As a whole the work reminds me of other pieces by contemporary composers – Sir Michael Tippett’s Byzantium comes to mind (I was lucky enough to be at the European Premiere of that one). ps – I love Rutter’s work 