Malcolm Arnold Festival

[Andrew Slater]

The (Seventh) Malcolm Arnold Festival 2012 - 20th to 21st October at Northampton

As there are only three weeks to go before the next Festival, I thought I'd bump this up to the top as a reminder

There's a programme of all events except the Sunday gala concert here, where weekend passes can be booked for the ridiculously low price of £12.

At that price, with two packed days of concerts and talks, there's no excuse for not going!

Information on the Sunday gala concert is here.

The Festival starts at 3pm on Saturday 20th October and finishes with the gala concert on Sunday 21st October. Accommodation at the local Travelodge (Northampton Central, which is 5-10 minutes' walk from Derngate) is OK and reasonably priced. (Less than £60 for two nights if booked separately.) There's also an Ibis hotel a couple of hundred yards further along for a few pounds more. Travel via London Midland trains is also very reasonable. (e.g. £6 each way from Stoke-on-Trent, if bought in advance.) There are frequent direct trains from Crewe / Stoke / Birmingham and London (Euston).

The Festival website is here.

The Malcolm Arnold Society website is here.

Several people were bemoaning the lack of Malcolm Arnold's music on R3 a while ago. Here is a chance to hear some of the works rarely heard anywhere, let alone on R3.

[EdgeleyRob]

Many thanks Andrew.
Family and work commitments mean It's not possible for me.
One day though.

[Andrew Slater]

The (Eighth) Malcolm Arnold Festival 2013 - 19th to 20th October at Northampton

This year's festival is almost upon us. As usual, a packed programme, at very reasonable prices.

Full details are here.

[EdgeleyRob]

This year's festival is almost upon us. As usual, a packed programme, at very reasonable prices.

Full details are here.

Looks like a super weekend.
I am envious of everyone who will be there.

[Andrew Slater]

The (Ninth) Malcolm Arnold Festival 2014 - 18th to 19th October at Northampton

This year's festival is almost upon us.

Highlights include the trumpet, oboe, first flute, second horn and first clarinet concertos, a rare performance of the comic opera 'The Open Window', the two violin sonatas, the five pieces for violin and piano, sonata for guitar and strings and exerpts from some of the films in the Derngate cinema.

The festival always has a packed programme, and with weekend passes costing £12.50 it can be as intense (or otherwise) as you wish.

Accommodation at the central Northampton Travelodge is reasonably priced and London Midland trains go direct from Birmingham and Euston with connections at Rugby and Milton Keynes. (Of course it's close to the M1 as well.)

The festival website is here and their facebook page is here.

[EdgeleyRob]

Looks to be a cracking weekend in prospect.

[Andrew Slater]

Yes - the Festival Director, Paul Harris, always does an excellent job of packing a huge amount in.

I have just corrected the date - I accidentally left last year in the title.

To be clear, it's 18th - 19th October, 2014

[Andrew Slater]

The Tenth Malcolm Arnold Festival, Sat 17th to Sun 18th October 2015, Northampton

This year's festival is just two months away. On another thread a few weeks ago several people expressed interest, so I thought I'd post some details here.

Highlights include an evening concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates including the Philharmonic Concerto, the John Field Fantasy (with Peter Donohoe) and the 7th symphony. The festival also includes the John Clare Cantata, Double Violin Concerto, the Second Symphony, the three Sinfoniettas, Symphony for Brass and the Saxophone Concerto.

They're looking for as many trumpeters as they can get (100?) to perform the Hoffnung fanfare to open the festival - details on the festival's facebook page.

The festival always has a packed programme, and with weekend passes costing £15.00 it can be as intense (or otherwise) as you wish. (There's an extra charge for each of the BBCCO concert and the Sunday gala concert.)

The Malcolm Arnold Society is holding a pre-festival dinner at the Park Inn on the Friday evening (the 16th), with guest speaker Lewis Foreman. This seems to be available to non-members but must be booked in advance.

Tickets for the festival can be obtained direct from the Royal and Derngate or at a slight discount from the Society for members.



Accommodation at the central Northampton Travelodge is reasonably priced and London Midland trains go direct from Birmingham and Euston with connections at Rugby and Milton Keynes. (Of course it's close to the M1 as well.)

The festival website is here and their facebook page is here.

The Malcolm Arnold Society website is here.

The Royal and Derngate (the venue) site is here.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks, Andrew. As a result of your post, I've just messaged a trumpeter friend who will almost certainly be interested.

[Andrew Slater]

Thanks - makes the posting worthwhile!

Any more trumpeters? They're looking for 100.

See this, this and this as well.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thanks for posting Andrew.
One of these years I will get to this festival

[mercia]

Highlights include an evening concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates including the Philharmonic Concerto, the John Field Fantasy (with Peter Donohoe) and the 7th symphony.

this coming Tuesday's Radio3 evening concert, as I'm sure we are all aware

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06j14rk

[Dave2002]

this coming Tuesday's Radio3 evening concert, as I'm sure we are all aware

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06j14rk

Pity - I'd flagged this weekend event up as something to go to, but it clashes with other (musical) things. I can't really abandon those I think at this late stage. Maybe next year.

How much of it will be broadcast or recorded? The brass piece ‘Symphony for Brass’ could be really interesting.

[EdgeleyRob]

this coming Tuesday's Radio3 evening concert, as I'm sure we are all aware

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06j14rk

Can't wait.

[Simon B]

The BBCCO concert was a... different experience.

Was this the first time Peter Donohoe has had to play an entire concerto (or something tantamount to one anyway) for a second time at the end of a concert? Things were a bit... eventful audience-wise despite a rather small attendance.

The upside was that the 2nd performance of the John Field Fantasy, sure to be the one broadcast, was an absolute belter. The most affecting work on the programme too IMO - the 7th symphony seemed a bit heavy on somewhat empty crash, bang, wallop at times as it does on recordings - just personal opinion though obviously.