This Summer sees the 70th anniversary of the Cheltenham Music Festival, one of the very oldest Festivals in Britain. I’m really thrilled to be returning this year to present Saint-Saen’s Carnival of the Animals. The score was written for a chamber ensemble but most modern recordings feature an inappropriately large orchestra. In Cheltenham we have an intimate and special treat, where the score has been reduced to something closer to the composer’s intentions, performed by just three superb young musicians – two pianists, Alex Kirk and Jonathan McNaught, with ‘cellist Rebecca McNaught.
I will introduce each animal with specially written verses, and as the music plays, will attempt to bring the animals to life in illustrations created live on stage, projected on a big screen for all to see.
Of course, the Carnival is something I am very familiar with, from an early concert in Saffron Walden with the Uttlesforde Orcherstra, to illustrating an interactive App for Naxos Records (see HERE). But this will be very different and very special, not least because of the lovely and supportive audiences I have in Cheltenham, a town I have grown to love over the last few years – especially last year while being Guest Director for Family Events at the Music Festival, a role taken up by violinist Nicola Benedetti in this anniversary year.
This is a one-off appearance for me this year, and I hope a real family treat. Certainly it will be a lovely way to introduce children to Saint-Saen’s work, especially through the performances of these brilliant young musicians!
I have been told that tickets are selling extremely fast – the theatre only seats 325 – so do book early! The performance is on Saturday July 12th at 11 am in the beautiful Parabola Theatre in Cheltenham. Tickets are on sale now and full information can be found on the Festival website HERE.
And now I need to go and think about what on earth I should draw for Personages with Long Ears!
Any suggestions?
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