Celebrating Northampton born composer Sir Malcolm Arnold

The eleventh annual Arnold Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday October 15 and 16, celebrating the life and work of the prolific and illustrious Northampton born composer Sir Malcolm Arnold.
Sir Malcolm Arnold PNL-160928-113036001Sir Malcolm Arnold PNL-160928-113036001
Sir Malcolm Arnold PNL-160928-113036001

This year’s celebration features a Gala Concert given by the BBC Concert Orchestra along with an entertaining programme of performances, films and talks.

Sir Malcolm’s music was hugely popular during the 1950s. With his fine symphonic cycle and many film scores including Hobson’s Choice, The Belles of St Trinian’s and Whistle Down The Wind, his work had a major influence on 20th century British music.

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This year’s festival reflects the extraordinary breadth of his talent and guest artists over the weekend include guitarist Craig Ogden, trumpeter John Wallace and pianist Alice Pinto.

The festival will be launched by popular film composer Nigel Hess and will include performances by The Janus Ensemble, the Jenny Dyson Wind Quartet and the Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra. There will also be a medley of Songs from the Films featuring soprano Claire Thompson and a talk on The Forgotten Documentaries by BBC Radio Northampton’s John Griff.

A Family Concert on the Saturday afternoon will feature a specially commissioned work by Timothy Bowers, Carnival of Carnivores,being performed together with Arnold’s Carnival of Animals by the Northampton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Gibbons. The spectacular finale to the weekend will be the Gala Concert on Sunday October 16 showcasing the works of Sir Malcolm as well as those of Sir William Walton.

For full details of the festival schedule and ticket prices go to www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

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