United Kingdom Grieg & Vaughan Williams: BBC Philharmonic, John Storgårds (conductor), BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, 2.11.2016. (RB)
Rob Barnett
Second Day of 11th Malcolm Arnold Festival Features Forgotten Documentaries
Second Day of 11th Malcolm Arnold Festival
11th Malcolm Arnold Festival Displays Composer’s Musical Breadth
11th Malcolm Arnold Festival
Introduction
2016 sees the tenth year of the Festival since Arnold’s death and the 95th since his birth. Director Paul Harris, typically charming and resolute, says of this year’s theme: “We’ve called it ‘The Voice of the People’ … [which] sums up Sir Malcolm’s intentions as a composer. He was always determined to write music that could be immediately appreciated and although he embraced many 20th century “isms”, his music remains utterly accessible.”
Northampton’s Malcolm Arnold Festival still has a strong and even hectic pulse; this after ten years, with concerts, recitals, talks and illustrated lectures piling in one after another. It comes to about a dozen events over two days. New and usually good experiences and plenty to learn.
USA, Britain and Finland find themselves neighbours in Salford
United Kingdom Kay, Coleridge-Taylor, Sibelius: BBC Philharmonic, John Storgårds (conductor), BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, 18.10.2016. (RB)
Towering Impact and Individuality in Alwyn’s Third Symphony at Snape
United Kingdom Alwyn, Tchaikovsky, Walton: Jennifer Pike (violin), BBC Concert Orchestra/John Gibbons (conductor), Snape Maltings Concert Hall, 5.10.2016. (RB)
Excellent Performance of Alwyn’s Neglected Lyra Angelica
United Kingdom Purcell, Alwyn, Vaughan Williams, Tchaikovsky: Louise Thomson (harp), Amaretti Chamber OrchestAlex Robinson (conductor),St. Andrew’s Church, Cheadle Hulme, 24.9.2016. (RB)
Gourlay and BBC Philharmonic Focus on Childhood, Meditation and Peace
United Kingdom Knussen, Elgar, Payne, Finzi, Britten: Robin Tritschler (tenor), BBC Philharmonic / Andrew Gourlay (conductor), BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, 16.9.2016. (RB)
Mancunian John Foulds Celebrated at Salford Quays Alongside Elgar and Arnold
United Kingdom Elgar, Arnold, Foulds: Alec Frank-Gemmill (horn), Michael Seal (conductor), BBC Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, 13.9.2016. (RB)