Your events at Classical Events
Details
St Matthew's Church
Cottingwood Road
Northampton
Northamptonshire
NN1 4RY
England
Programme
Malcolm Arnold – Rinaldo and Armida
Isaac Albéniz – España, Op.165: no.2 Tango
Pyotr Tchaikovsky – Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33
Pyotr Tchaikovsky – Eugene Onegin: Polonaise
Jean Sibelius – Symphony no.1 in E minor, Op.39
Performers
John Gibbons – Conductor
Northampton Symphony Orchestra
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
One of England’s most colourful and charismatic composers – Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) – is to be celebrated across three days during October at the 18th International Malcolm Arnold Festival; an annual programme of events centred around the multi-faceted composer and his music. This year returning to the composer’s birthplace, the city of Northampton, there will be live music, talks and a Masterclass over the weekend of 14-15 October, and broadcasting from around the UK as part of a specially procured programme will be a digital live-stream on Sunday 29 October.
Following last year’s most ambitious Festival yet, Director Paul Harris is continuing the live and digital format with something to reach out to every listener both in person - with concerts, talks, and a Masterclass to be given by clarinettist Emma Johnson, - as well as a specially conceived live-streamed day, linking up with performances from locations around the UK connected to the composer’s eventful life.
Paul Harris says “The 18th Malcolm Arnold Festival, yet again, promises to be a real feast. As usual, we will be presenting a whole range of events from chamber concerts to full-scale symphonic works. We’re delighted to be holding the Festival at the very prestigious Cripps Hall which is part of Northampton School for Boys – the very school the young Malcolm Arnold attended!”
The Festival’s live Gala Concert on Saturday 14 October, welcomes the return of the Northampton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director and long-time Arnold champion, John Gibbons. On the programme is one of Malcolm Arnold's lesser-known works which demonstrates his talent for working with more serious and dramatic themes. The suite from the one-act ballet, Rinaldo and Armida, depicts the tale of Crusader, Renaldo, who is on his way to the Holy Land, then lured into the enchanted garden of the sorceress Armida and falls under her spell. However, Armida knows she must die if she returns his love.
A packed day of entertainment continues on Sunday 15 October, when the Festival moves to the composer’s school, Northampton School for Boys, for a day of live music-making and talks celebrating the composer’s links.
Highlights include a Clarinet Masterclass when one of the world’s most esteemed Clarinettists, Emma Johnson MBE, takes three talented young performers through some of Malcolm Arnold’s most famous works for clarinet. BBC Radio Northampton’s broadcaster and Malcolm Arnold devotee, John Griff, gives an insight into the composer’s famous film music, Live music continues throughout the day, demonstrating the exuberance of Arnold’s music for brass and wind with performances from The Enderby Band, the Nick Budd Brass Quintet and Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band.
Hilary Davan Wetton conducts the Festiva’s Grand Finale concert and provides the opportunity to hear Malcolm Arnold’s Oboe Concerto, his haunting Serenade for Guitar and Strings and the ever-popular Symphony for Strings performed by the LGT String Orchestra – an award-winning string ensemble made up of highly talented young soloists between the ages of 13 and 23 from over 20 nations.
