Autumn in Malvern Festival 2024
14 September 2024 to 27 October 2024
Founded in 1989, the festival is classical-music based with strong elements of the literary and visual arts.
A regular visitor to the festival over the past 35 years is the European Union Chamber Orchestra comprising some of the finest musicians from countries in the EU. This year they play music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Holst, Bartok, and the rarely performed Variations on an Elizabethan Theme by Britten, Berkeley, Tippett, Searle and Walton, a magnificent piece originally commissioned by Benjamin Britten for the Aldeburgh Festival.
Headline talks this year are by Howard Jacobson, the Man Booker Award Winning novelist, with readings selected from his highly acclaimed talks for BBC Radio 4’s A Point of View. Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate reads his own poems and one connected with the Malvern Hills by Robert Frost, the American poet.
There are illustrated talks on the writer and poet, Laurie Lee, AE Housman and Harry Maclean, while John Garth, a world expert on Tolkien, debunks the commonly held myths and misconceptions about the inspiration for Lord of the Rings and Middle Earth. Alison Bevan, Director of the Royal West of England Academy talks about the Cornish painter, Harold Harvey.
The vocal Ensemble, Gaudeamus, present the life of Richard III in words and music at Christ Church. The Grade I Listed St Leonards Chapel at the Beauchamp Community is the location for a recital of Organ and Choral music by JS Bach with Aldwyn Voices and Iain Simcock, formerly organist at the Abbey of St Pierre, Solesmes, France. In contrast, the Malvern Ukulele Band play outside Waitrose, for shoppers delight.
There are exhibitions in Great Malvern Library featuring the Lanchester Marionettes in Malvern and New Paintings by Graham Davies, plus a demonstration in sketching and watercolour by Kim Whitby. There are exhibitions at Elmslie House, Alchemy and Craftworks on two weekends. Great Malvern Priory is the location for paintings and drawings by Bridget Macdonald inspired by the poetry of Catherine Swire with discussions on three Tuesday lunchtimes during October.
The full programme can be found on the festival website, as well as on flyers that can be picked up at Tourist Information, Malvern Theatres, Malvern Library and Great Malvern Priory.
Tickets can be booked from the Malvern Theatres box office on (01684) 892 277 from 1st August onwards.
For more information, email malvernmusic@outlook.com
For events and dates please visit www.malvernfestival.co.uk