News, information and resources.
2021 marks the centenary of the birth of Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006). One of the towering figures of twentieth-century British music.
If you are planning to celebrate the centenary, we’d love to hear from you!
Selected upcoming events (please confirm with the venue before making any travel arrangements):
- City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra: The Sound Barrier (4 Dec 2021)
- Conservatoire de Rueil Malmaison: The Holly and the Ivy (9 Dec 2021)
- Norwich Philharmonic: Arnold Centenary Concert – Symphony 5 (11 Dec 2021)
- Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra: The Holly and the Ivy (11 Dec 2021)
- Elysian Singers: Song of Simeon (16 Dec 2021)
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra: The Holly and the Ivy (16 – 19 Dec 2021)
- Thames Youth Orchestra: The Holly and the Ivy (18 Dec 2021)
- Lewes Concert Orchestra: Grand Grand Overture (17 Dec 2021)
- Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra: Symphony 5 (23 Dec 2021)
- SCAPE Hong Kong: British Chamber Music (3 Jan 2022)
- Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz: Grand Grand Overture (27 Jan 2021)
- Junge Deutsche Philharmonie Brass: Brass Quintet #1 (3 – 6 Feb 2021)
- Junges Sinfonieorchester Hannover: Symphony 5 (19 & 24 Feb 2022)
- Hertford Symphony Orchestra (5 March 2022)
- Royal College of Music: Hobson’s Choice (12 March 2022)
- Todmorden Orchestra: Scottish Dances (19 March 2022)
- London Serenata: Sea Shanties (26 March 2022)
- Nottingham Youth Orchestra: Tam O’Shanter (27 Mar 2022)
- Sudbury Symphony Orchestra: Symphony 5 (27 Mar 2022)
- Aylesbury Symphony Orchestra: Symphony 6 (7 May 2022)
- Vratsa Symphony Orchestra: Viola Concerto (13 & 18 May 2022)
- Northern Chamber Orchestra with Craig Ogden: Guitar Concerto (22 May 2022)
- Essex Symphony Orchestra: Classic British Film Music (18 June 2022)
- Hertfordshire Festival of Music: Featuring the music of Malcolm Arnold (June 2022)
- Masquerade String Quartet: Belles of St Trinians (1 July 2022)
New recordings:
- BBC Music Magazine April 2021 – Arnold Centenary Editon with CD of Symphonies 2 & 4
- Ben Goldscheider recording the Horn Fantasy
- A Centenary Celebration CD – Peter Fisher & Margaret Fingerhut
- John Gibbons to record Symphony No 9 and the premiere recording of A Grand Concerto Gastronomique
- Ben Goldscheider recording the 2nd Horn Concerto
- Centenary Edition – Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Complete Symphonies and Dances (6-disc boxed set) – re-release from Naxos
New books:
- Rooted in Northampton: Malcolm Arnold’s family tree – new book by Alan Poulton
- Malcolm Arnold Catalogue of works – new edition by Alan Poulton
- A nice conundrum by Alan Poulton
Selected other highlights:
- The Dancing Master – BBC Music Magazine Opera Award Winner
- Gramophone Magazine Sept 2021 – Malcolm Arnold at 100 by Richard Bratby
- Presto Music Podcast with Piers Burton-Page
- Classicalexburns – Composer of the Month (Aug 2021)
- Classical Gabfest – Richard Bratby on the music of Malcolm Arnold
- Philip Rupprecht on MalcolmArnold’s reception at the BBC in the late 40s/early 50
- Clever Conversation: An appreciation of Malcolm Arnold’s score to the Chalk Garden by David Huckvale
- Chichester Film Festival: Malcolm Arnold Centenary
- Malcolm Arnold Festival Extras
- Why did Malcolm Arnold write his Fourth Symphony in response to the Notting Hill Race Riots?
- A repeat of Discovering The Bridge on the River Kwai on BBC4/iPlayer
- Malcolm Arnold Essay Prize 2021
- The Dancing Master Opera Talk
- Sir Malcolm Arnold: Life, Reputation and Centenary
- 100th Birthday Week on BBC Radio 3
- BBC Radio Northampton: Northampton’s Musical Maverick: Malcolm Arnold at 100
- Britten Piers Arts: Britten and Arnold by Dr Nicholas Clark
- Review: Naxos’ Malcolm Arnold Symphonies by David Hurwitz
- New York Times: The Hilarious, Heartbreaking Life and Music of Malcolm Arnold
- More recordings and books are coming!
Selected previous events:
- Live Stream: St Paul’s Sinfonia: Sinfonietta 3 – (20-27 March 2021)
- Live Stream: Royal Academy Symphonic Brass: Brass Quintet No 1 – (23 April 2021 1 pm) (click on the link to re-watch)
- Live Stream: St Paul’s Sinfonia: Serenade for Small Orchestra – (23-30 April 2021) (click on the link to re-watch)
- St Paul’s Sinfonia: Larch Trees (21 May 2021 7.30 pm)
- Live Stream: Harrisburg Symphony: Sinfonietta 1 – (22 – 30 May 2021)
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: Symphony No 5 – (9 June 2021 2 pm & 6:30 pm)
- St Paul’s Sinfonia: Flute Concerto No 2 – (18 June 2021 8 pm) (click on the link to re-watch)
- Stream: Irish Chamber Orchestra: Guitar Serenade with Sean Shibe – (21 June 2021 7:30 pm)
- London Song Festival – (2 July – 5 July 2021)
- Buxton International Festival 2021 – (8-25 July 2021) – Staging Malcolm Arnold’s Dancing Master
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra: Sinfonietta 3 (16 & 19 July 2021)
- British Music Festival in Taiwan – (23 July – 7 Aug 2021)
- The Presteigne Festival – (26-31 Aug 2021) will be honouring Malcolm Arnold this year
- BBC Proms 2021 – (30 July – 11 Sept 2021) – Three prom concerts featuring Malcolm Arnold
- Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra Budapest: Flute Concerto No 1 (23 Sept 2021)
- Malcolm Arnold Centenary Concert – (24 Sept 2021)
- Malcolm Arnold Centenary Chat with Andrew Penny (26 Sept 2021)
- Prime Brass Arnold Centenary Celebration – (2 Oct 2021)
- Whistle Down the Wind with Hayley Mills in conversation at NFT1– (3 Oct 2021)
- Sudbury Symphony Orchestra Workshop: Symphony 5 (3 Oct 2021)
- Westminster Wind Quintet: MA Centenary Recital (8 Oct 2021)
- Ealing Symphony Orchestra: Viola Concerto (9 Oct 2021)
- South-West German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim: Sinfonietta 1 – (10 Oct 2021 7 pm)
- 16th Malcolm Arnold Festival – (16-17 October 2021)
- Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra: Symphony 5 (16 Oct 2021)
- National Arts Centre Orchestra: John Storgards (21 Oct 2021)
- RBCSO & Michael Seal: Beckus & Symphony 6 (22 Oct 2021)
- Northampton Symphony Orchestra: Malcolm Arnold at 100 (23 Oct 2021)
- Stockport Youth Orchestra: Little Suite No 2 (31 Oct 2021)
- Kammerorcherster St. Lambertus: Organ Concerto (1 Nov 2021)
- Northern Chamber Orchestra: Flute Concerto 1 (3 Nov 2021)
- Orchestra Giovanile Filarmonici Friulani: Organ Concerto (6 Nov 2021)
- Royal Greenwich Brass Band: Little Suite for Brass (7 Nov 2021)
- Sinfonia Perdita: Malcolm Arnold Centenary Concert (13 Nov 2021)
- Oulu Sinfonia: Sir Malcolm Arnold 100 (18 – 19 Nov 2021)
- Royal Liverpool Phil & Youth Orchestra English Dances (20 Nov 2021)
- Finchley Symphony Orchestra (20 Nov 2021)
- Oxford University Orchestra: Malcolm Arnold and Ruth Gipps Centenary (21 Nov 2021)
- Hull Philharmonic Orchestra: Peterloo Overture (27 Nov 2021)
- Junior Trinity Winter Concerts (28 Nov 2021)
- Sinfonia Köln (28 Nov 2021)
- Liverpool Wind Collective: Malcolm Arnold Centenary (29 Nov 2021)
- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire: Malcolm Arnold Gala Celebration (29 Nov 2021)
- Cambridge University Wind Orchestra (30 Nov 2021)
Also, check the BBC Radio 3 listings!
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