Monday, 29 March 2010

A weekend of razzamatazz and glamour!

This year is the fifth annual Malcolm Arnold Festival

which is a two day festival based at the Royal and Derngate

in Northampton - the town of Sir Malcolm Arnold's birth.

The theme for the 2010 Malcolm Arnold Festival is Stage and Screen.

The festival (16-17 October) will see stars from the silver screen gathering at the Royal and Derngate in Northampton.

The legendary actress Hayley Mills (Whistle Down the Wind) will be guest of honor at the festival opening and members

from the cast and crew of the original St Trinian's films will feature in a special event celebrating

the 50^th anniversary of The Pure Hell of St Trinian's.

The legendary actress Hayley Mills

(Whistle Down the Wind)

will be guest of honor at the festival opening

Sir Malcolm Arnold wrote the scores for over 70 major feature films winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe (?)– in the 50s and 60s

he was one of the most sought after film composers, both here and in Hollywood.

His music for the concert hall and the stage were and still are hugely popular – there are five ballets,

one musical and a fascinating assortment of incidental music.

Malcolm Arnold conducting

The festival opens with 12 trumpeters from the award winning Northampton County Youth Orchestra playing Malcolm Arnold's

exuberant and high-spirited Hoffnung Fanfare which was written for the celebrated and riotous Hoffnung Music Festival in 1956.

1950's Malcolm the composer

The festival programme includes, on the Saturday, a talk with actress Hayley Mills

about the films she and her father, the great John Mills, made with Sir Malcolm Arnold;

the Young Musician Competition in which young performers are invited to play any solo or ensemble work by the composer;

an illustrated talk on the film music by composer Martin Ellerby, a real expert in the genre; a scintillating piano recital featuring

music from both stage and screen; the world premiere of a specially commissioned work for the occasion

and a performance of the large-scale choral and orchestral work Return of Odysseus.

The Sunday has a very special flavour beginning with some rarely seen film excerpts; this is followed by the

acclaimed Northampton County Youth Orchestra performing the St. Trinian’s Suite (as well as other memorable film music);

a unique St Trinian’s event with many of the actors and crew from the original St. Trinian’s films!; a song recital of music

from Arnold’s marvellously tuneful musical Parasol as well as the witty and colourful set of songs he wrote as

incidental music to Sean O’Casey’s play Purple Dust; in a concert of string quartet music, Northampton composer

William Alwyn also features.

The festival is rounded off with a Gala Concert: ‘A Night To Remember’ which includes music by William Alwyn

(who, like Sir Malcolm Arnold, also wrote about seventy film scores).

Alwyn’s ‘overture’ to the first major film about the Titanic will open the programme

which also features his music to the famous war film Desert Victory and some of Malcolm Arnold’s

best loved film music. The concert also includes Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto and Walton’s Battle of Britain Suite.

Altogether an evening of real nostalgia and excitement

Paul Harris, Festival Director, says

“It's a great coup for the festival to have so many stars coming to

celebrate Malcolm Arnold's music for stage and screen.
I am also delighted that so many young musicians
are taking part this year – Sir Malcolm Arnold would highly approve!”

Saturday 16th 11am Festival Launch by Hayley Mills. Members of the Northamptonshire Country Youth Orchestra play

                                         Hoffnung Fanfare for 12 trumpets
                11.45am An Illustrated talk by Paul Harris and Hayley Mills Whistle down the Wind, The Chalk Garden, Sky West and Crooked
                   2pm       Malcolm Arnold Performance Competition. Judges: John Gibbons (chair), Moritz Ernst and Matthew Taylor
                   3:30pm   Malcolm Arnold Film Music: a talk by Martin Ellerby
                   4:30pm   Tea
                5.00pm   Moritz Ernst piano Programme includes Music from stage and film and the *World Première* of Matthew Taylor Fantasy on Whistle Down the Wind
                   8.00pm   Northampton Symphony Orchestra & Abingdon Choral Society Conductor Alexander Walker. Introduced by Matthew Taylor Return of Odysseus and Sweeney Todd

Sunday 17th 11am   Malcolm Arnold on film. Rarely seen film excerpts Presented by Martin Ellerby.
                   12noon   Northamptonshire Country Youth Orchestra. Programme includes Sound Barrier; St Trinians Suite; Inn of the 6th Happiness; Scherzetto; Hobson’s Choice
                2.15pm   Celebrating St Trinians! Including members of the original cast and crew of the four St Trinian's films.
                   4.00pm   The Harpham Quartet play Arnold and Alwyn. Alwyn String Quartet No 1; Arnold String Quartet No 2
                   5.00pm   Jessica Gillingwater soprano and Edward Hughes tenor Programme includes Songs from Parasol & Purple Dust
                   7:30pm   Gala Concert: A Night to Remember The Malcolm Arnold Festival Orchestra Conductor John Gibbons Arnold Overture from Trapeze;
                                       Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 2; Arnold Bridge on the River Kwai; Boy on the Bridge (Premiere); Stolen Face, David Copperfield; Alwyn A Night to remember, Desert Victory. Many Thanks,
Paul Harris (Artistic Director, Malcolm Arnold Festival)