Concerto, symphony, ballets, film music and more: the 14th Malcolm Arnold Festival

Sir Malcolm Arnold in 1958

The 14th Malcolm Arnold Festival is next weekend (12-13 October 2019) in the composer's birthplace, Northampton, presenting a lively selection of live music, films and talks exploring the work of this multi-faceted composer. The theme of this year's festival is partnerships so that the performance at the opening concert of Shostakovich's Age of Gold Suite and Piano Concerto No. 2 by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Barry Wordsworth, soloist Rose McLachlan, highlights the links between the two composers. And another composer friend is Ruth Gipps and the Northampton Symphony Orchestra, conductor John Gibbons, will be performing Arnold's Variations on a theme of Ruth Gipps, whilst Alice Pinto will give a talk on Arnold's relationship with her.

But the festival is, of course, a prime chance to hear Arnold's music and there will be a suite from his 1953 ballet Homage to the Queen, Symphony No. 2, Savile Club Fanfare, second Sinfonietta, Clarinet Concerto and the world premiere of Arnold's 1963 one-act ballet score Electra plus music from the films Stolen Face, and Trapeze. 

Full details from the Royal and Derngate website.