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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261024T000000
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DTSTAMP:20260910T164039Z
CREATED:20260909T142851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T164039Z
UID:10032048-1792800000-1792800000@discover-northamptonshire.co.uk
SUMMARY:Malcolm Arnold Festival - A Day of Live Music in Northampton\, at Cripps Hall and St Matthew's Church!
DESCRIPTION:Celebrated cellist Julian Lloyd Webber launches a day of live performances honouring the music of Sir Malcolm Arnold at Cripps Hall and St Matthew’s Church on Saturday 24th October\, in the composer’s hometown of Northampton. The Malcolm Arnold Festival\, a community-focused annual celebration\, will showcase the composer's sparkling chamber\, brass and orchestral music performed by guests including local ensembles\, the Northampton Symphony Orchestra and Towcester Studio Band. An affordable Day Ticket offers low-cost entrance\, with free admission for students and those under 18. \nANNUAL CELEBRATION OF NORTHAMPTON’S MUSICAL GENIUS \nProbably best known for his internationally famous film scores\, symphonic showpieces\, and a canon of powerfully emotive semi-autobiographical symphonies\, the Malcolm Arnold Festival is an annual programme of events celebrating one of England’s most prolific\, colourful and charismatic composers – Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006). \n“A GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP” \nThe festival will be opened by its President\, the internationally renowned cellist and educator Julian Lloyd Webber\, who shares a profound personal connection with one of the many standout performances. Malcolm Arnold wrote his 'Fantasy' for the cellist in 1986.  \nReflecting on the work\, Lloyd Webber notes that Arnold's writing is incredibly generous and direct\, demonstrating a genuine love for the instrument through lyrical phrasing that naturally draws out the richest\, warmest qualities. Recalling the origin of the piece and their mutual admiration\, Lloyd Webber has said that on requesting a commission from the composer\, “he readily agreed while refusing to accept a commission fee\, explaining that his music was “a gesture of friendship”.  \nConsisting of seven short continuous movements\, the work conveys the same intensity of expression found in Arnold’s finest works. And fittingly\, it will be Lloyd Webber’s wife\, Jiaxin Cheng Lloyd Webber – herself an acclaimed cellist – who will take centre stage in this performance. \nGUEST ENSEMBLES AND RISING STARS \nJoining Jiaxin will be guest ensembles including the Albion Orchestra\, Towcester Studio Band\, Roger Coull (violin)\, Nicholas Roberts (cello) and Lynn Arnold (piano)\, as well as rising stars from the premier international music academies and conservatoires. \nGALA CONCERT PROMISES ARNOLD SHOWPIECES \nFor the evening concert the festival transfers to St Matthew’s Church when the Northampton Symphony Orchestra presents a rousing celebration of orchestral music by Malcolm Arnold alongside two of his fellow-composers and performed under the baton of the orchestra’s musical director and life-long Arnold champion John Gibbons BEM.  \nAn evening of high-octane performances is promised featuring the composer’s characteristically tuneful themes from the film soundtrack to 'The Sound Barrier'\, and his final work\, the Little Suite No.3\, also known as A 'Manx' Suite\, which incorporates traditional tunes from the Isle of Man. The Philharmonic Concerto – a three-movement orchestral showpiece featuring a wealth of percussion including bongos\, tam-tam\, side drum and tambourine – is to be performed to mark the 250th anniversary this year of the American Declaration of Independence. \nAlongside these works will be the spirited Oboe Concerto by Ruth Gipps\, written when the composer was just 20 years old and studying under the legendary Léon Goossens at the Royal College of Music\, where Malcolm Arnold was a fellow student. As a fine oboist herself\, the work demonstrates Gipps’ deep understanding and technical mastery of the instrument and reflects the expressive\, lyrical style inspired by her teacher. For this performance\, the oboe soloist will be the CBSO’s Principal Second Oboe\, Emmet Byrne. \nTwo contrasting works by Dmitri Shostakovich bookend the programme: his exuberant Festive Overture\, and the satirical Symphony No. 9 – a piece famously banned in Soviet Russia until 1955. Acknowledging the composer’s creative influence and shared sentiment\, Arnold viewed the symphony as a masterclass in artistic defiance\, declaring “we’re kindred souls in a very rough barbaric world.” \nFESTIVAL CONTINUES WITH FREE-TO-VIEW LIVE-STREAM \nThe Malcolm Arnold Festival continues online with a free-to-view live stream presenting a complementary programme themed around the composer’s music of 1956 and a discovery of his piano repertoire. The live stream can be accessed on Sunday 1st November from the website.  \nHOW TO BOOK\n–	DAY TICKET\nCripps Hall\, Northampton NN1 5RT\n£18.00\, Under 18s / Student FREE\nhttps://www.tickettailor.com/events/malcolmarnoldfestival/2194895  \n–	GALA CONCERT \nSaint Matthew's Church\, The Drive\, Northampton NN1 4RY\n£15.00\, Concession £12.00\, Under 18s £5.00 \nhttps://ti.to/nso/nsoconcert241026
URL:https://discover-northamptonshire.co.uk/event/malcolm-arnold-festival-a-day-of-live-music-in-northampton-at-cripps-hall-and-st-matthews-church/
LOCATION:St Matthew’s Church\, Northampton\, NN1 4RY
CATEGORIES:Family friendly,Festival,Free,Half Term,History,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://discover-northamptonshire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Albion-Orchestra--scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261024T000000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261024T000000
DTSTAMP:20260910T163911Z
CREATED:20260909T150656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T163911Z
UID:10032045-1792800000-1792800000@discover-northamptonshire.co.uk
SUMMARY:Malcolm Arnold Festival - Northampton Symphony Orchestra at St Matthew's Church!
DESCRIPTION:ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF NORTHAMPTON’S MUSICAL GENIUS \nThe Malcolm Arnold Festival\, a community-focused annual celebration honouring the music of Sir Malcolm Arnold in his hometown of Northampton\, will showcase the composer's sparkling chamber\, brass and orchestral music performed by guests including local ensembles\, the Northampton Symphony Orchestra and Towcester Studio Band. \nProbably best known for his internationally famous film scores\, symphonic showpieces\, and a canon of powerfully emotive semi-autobiographical symphonies\, the Malcolm Arnold Festival is an annual programme of events celebrating one of England’s most prolific\, colourful and charismatic composers – Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006). \nGALA CONCERT PROMISES ARNOLD SHOWPIECES \nFor the evening concert at 7:30pm at St Matthew’s Church\, the Northampton Symphony Orchestra presents a rousing celebration of orchestral music by Malcolm Arnold alongside two of his fellow-composers and performed under the baton of the orchestra’s musical director and life-long Arnold champion John Gibbons BEM.  \nAn evening of high-octane performances is promised featuring the composer’s characteristically tuneful themes from the film soundtrack to 'The Sound Barrier'\, and his final work\, the Little Suite No.3\, also known as A 'Manx' Suite\, which incorporates traditional tunes from the Isle of Man. The Philharmonic Concerto – a three-movement orchestral showpiece featuring a wealth of percussion including bongos\, tam-tam\, side drum and tambourine – is to be performed to mark the 250th anniversary this year of the American Declaration of Independence. \nAlongside these works will be the spirited Oboe Concerto by Ruth Gipps\, written when the composer was just 20 years old and studying under the legendary Léon Goossens at the Royal College of Music\, where Malcolm Arnold was a fellow student. As a fine oboist herself\, the work demonstrates Gipps’ deep understanding and technical mastery of the instrument and reflects the expressive\, lyrical style inspired by her teacher. For this performance\, the oboe soloist will be the CBSO’s Principal Second Oboe\, Emmet Byrne. \nTwo contrasting works by Dmitri Shostakovich bookend the programme: his exuberant Festive Overture\, and the satirical Symphony No. 9 – a piece famously banned in Soviet Russia until 1955. Acknowledging the composer’s creative influence and shared sentiment\, Arnold viewed the symphony as a masterclass in artistic defiance\, declaring “we’re kindred souls in a very rough barbaric world.” \nA DAY OF MUSICAL DISCOVERIES \nEarlier\, from 11:00am at Cripps Hall (School for Boys)\, the festival is to be opened by its President\, the internationally renowned cellist and educator Julian Lloyd Webber\, who shares a profound personal connection with one of the many standout performances: Malcolm Arnold wrote his 'Fantasy' for the cellist in 1986.  \nReflecting on the work\, Lloyd Webber notes that Arnold's writing is incredibly generous and direct\, demonstrating a genuine love for the instrument through lyrical phrasing that naturally draws out the richest\, warmest qualities. Recalling the origin of the piece and their mutual admiration\, Lloyd Webber has said that on requesting a commission from the composer\, “he readily agreed while refusing to accept a commission fee\, explaining that his music was “a gesture of friendship”.  \nConsisting of seven short continuous movements\, the work conveys the same intensity of expression found in Arnold’s finest works. And fittingly\, it will be Lloyd Webber’s wife\, Jiaxin Cheng Lloyd Webber – herself an acclaimed cellist – who will take centre stage in this performance. \nGUEST ENSEMBLES AND RISING STARS \nJoining Jiaxin will be guest ensembles including the Albion Orchestra\, Towcester Studio Band\, Roger Coull (violin)\, Nicholas Roberts (cello) and Lynn Arnold (piano)\, as well as rising stars from the premier international music academies and conservatoires. \nAn affordable Day Ticket offers low-cost entrance\, with free admission for students and those under 18. The evening's Gala Concert is priced separately\, please see below. Full details and ticket sales via the website or on the door. \nFESTIVAL CONTINUES WITH FREE-TO-VIEW LIVE-STREAM \nThe Malcolm Arnold Festival continues online with a free-to-view live stream presenting a complementary programme themed around the composer’s music of 1956 and a discovery of his piano repertoire. The live stream can be accessed on Sunday 1st November from the website.  \nHOW TO BOOK\n–	DAY TICKET\nCripps Hall\, Northampton NN1 5RT\n£18.00\, Under 18s / Student FREE\nhttps://www.tickettailor.com/events/malcolmarnoldfestival/2194895  \n–	GALA CONCERT \nSaint Matthew's Church\, The Drive\, Northampton NN1 4RY\n£15.00\, Concession £12.00\, Under 18s £5.00 \nhttps://ti.to/nso/nsoconcert241026
URL:https://discover-northamptonshire.co.uk/event/malcolm-arnold-festival-northampton-symphony-orchestra-at-st-matthews-church/
LOCATION:St Matthew’s Church\, Northampton\, NN1 4RY
CATEGORIES:Family friendly,Festival,Free,Half Term,History,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://discover-northamptonshire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Northampton-Symphony-Orchestra.jpg
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