This colourful all-English programme takes off with William Walton’s music for the climactic aerial duel of Guy Hamilton’s classic 1969 movie. Walton was originally booked to compose the entire film score before MGM’s studio executives abruptly side-lined him in favour of Ron Goodwin. Walton’s battle scene was the only section that remained of his music but it’s also the film’s most memorable moment, capturing the altitudinous, rapid-firing action with breathless energy. Walton’s near contemporary, Sir Arthur Bliss, wrote his Cello Concerto for the great Russian virtuoso Mstislav Rostropovich, who gave its premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1970. One of Bliss’s last major works, it’s an appealing mix of lyricism and the composer’s trademark rhythmic drive. Our soloist is Guy Johnston, a former BBC Young Musician winner and now one of the world’s leading cellists.*

Cantamus Girls Choir

Oct 24, 2024

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Cantamus Girls Choir