BEDFORD PARK SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST 2016
20th Year
WELCOME TO BEDFORD
proms in the park
Good evening everyone, we are delighted to welcome you back to glorious Bedford Park to celebrate our 20th Proms! We will be celebrating tonight with a stunning evening of popular classical music, summer picnicking, spectacular fireworks and a touch of Pomp and Circumstance to boot! Following on from our successful format last year we are once again staging three concerts of which the Proms is the middle concert. We are extremely looking forward to those guests who are joining us for tomorrow’s Tom Jones concert.
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Tonight, we hope you will join us in welcoming all our performers and in particular, Classical Brit Award winning ‘Blake’ and our wonderful soprano ‘Rebecca Newman’. I would like to extend my thanks to both Blake and Rebecca Newman for all their support and help to raise awareness of the concert in the run up to tonight. This year to celebrate our 20th Proms we enlisted the help of talented artist Tabitha Mary, who has been responsible for all our art work this year and she has also designed a very special 20th Proms print, which will be available to buy tonight. Many thanks to Tabitha do pop along and see her work at the merchandise tent. Our thanks also go out to our principle sponsors Elms BMW/Mini and Robinson & Hall, as well as our media partner Bedfordshire on Sunday, all of whom have assisted greatly in bringing you this weekend’s broad spectrum of concerts for you to enjoy. And of course, without Bedford’s enthusiastic Promenaders, there is no Proms in the Park, so thank you so much for being here tonight and for your support. Please do continue to tell us what you enjoy about the evening, the programme, etc, by visiting bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk. Your comments matter to us and will help us deliver back to you future concerts that just get better and better. I wish you all an enjoyable evening at Bedford Proms In The Park
Our Principle Sponsor Elms Bedford Elms Bedford are proud to support tonight’s concert as principle sponsor. Our involvement in this exciting local event enables us to strengthen our relationship with the local community and our customers. I hope you enjoy tonight’s concert. Richard Woods Head of Business, Elms Bedford.
Our Media Partner Bedfordshire on Sunday Welcome back to Bedford Park – and another fantastic year of Bedford Park Concerts. From Dizzee Rascal to Rebecca Newman, our own local choirs to the legend that is Sir Tom Jones – there is certainly been a full spectrum of fantastic music on offer at this year’s three-day event. This evening we enjoy our park and the people in it at their finest. It has been a turbulent summer (to say the least), and taking time out to appreciate our communities and that which binds us has never felt so important. So charge your glass, turn to the people on the rug next to you and toast the future – whatever it may hold!
Mark Harrison Managing Director Bedford Park Concerts
Sarah Cox Editor, Bedfordshire on Sunday
THE LONDON GALA ORCHESTRA
As a result of its success in the ballet world it was invited to work with major choral societies such as The Royal Choral Society, the London Welsh Choral Society and the Malcolm Sargent Choral Society
The L. G.O. was originally formed at the request of English National Opera to accompany international ballet companies visiting London for their summer season at the London Coliseum. It was soon also playing at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre as well as touring with the Bolshoi and Moscow ballet companies. As a result of its success in the ballet world it was invited to work with major choral societies such as The Royal Choral Society, the London Welsh Choral Society and the Malcolm Sargent Choral Society, performing with them at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Halls. The orchestra also became involved with music for young people. It was a regular guest at the E.R.M.A. children’s concerts on the South Bank and the Arthur Davison family concerts. Following this came gala concerts at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and performances in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Edward. Since then the orchestra has performed with many artists from the classical music world such as Sir Thomas Allen, Josephine Barstow, Sarah Chang, Willard White, Benjamen Grosvenor, Evelyn Glennie and the world famous Placido Donmingo. At the same time the orchestra presented popular concerts, appealing to a wider audience. The orchestra moved from the concert stage to the dance floor when it was invited to play for the Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain’s annual ball at the Café Royal, under the baton of the renowned Viennese expert John Georgiadis. The orchestra has worked for many years with John in this capacity. During the summer months the orchestra is in demand for open air concerts, performing with artists such as Aled Jones, Russell Watson, Paul Potts, Hayley Westenra, Jonathan Ansell and the crossover groups McFly, Blake,Teatro and Opera Babes. The L.G.O.’s own New Year tour has promoted live Viennese music in Britain for 21 years. By developing programme formats which include lesser known works from the repertoire as well as all the Viennese classics it has attracted audiences again and again and become an integral part of New Year celebrations for thousands of people. www.londongalaorchestra.co.uk
MUSICAL PROGRAMME Fanfare for the Common Man Overture: The Bartered Bride Zadok the Priest Habanera Jupiter Because we believe Nella Fantasia Bring Him Home Tritch Tratsh Polka Jazz Suite No. 2 You Raise me Up Up Where We Belong
Aaron Copland Smetana Handel Bizet Holst Arma Credi E Vai Morricone Boubil/Schonberg Strauss Shostakovich Lovland Jennings, Nitzsche & Sainte-Marie
INTERVAL Montagues and Capulets Aida – The Grand March I vow to thee my country Nessun Dorma Vissi d'Arte The Prayer Time to Say Goodbye Sabre Dance Nimrod Fantasia on British Sea Songs Rule Britannia Jerusalem Pomp and Circumstance No 1 William Tell Overture
Prokofiev Verdi Holst Puccini Puccini Foster, Sager, Testa & Renis Sartori Khachaturian Elgar Wood Arne Parry Elgar Rossini
STEPHEN BELL
Conductor
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Described in 2011 by International Record Review as “one of the most gifted younger British conductors”, Stephen Bell studied at the Royal College of Music under the renowned conductor Norman Del Mar, and now finds himself increasingly in demand with a wide variety of European orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, National Symphony Orchestra (RTÉ), Hallé, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, ERT National Symphonic Orchestra (Athens), Brighton Philharmonic and Ulster Orchestras. A progressively challenging conducting schedule now affords Stephen the opportunity to conduct both at home and abroad, in venues such as London, Istanbul, Toronto and Athens.
Stephen’s recent discography includes critically acclaimed CDs on ASV, Naxos and Dutton labels, including two with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and more recently, a disc of Gordon Jacob for Dutton Records and three world premiere recordings with violist Roger Chase and the BBC Concert Orchestra. 2016 sees three brand new releases with the Hallé on their own label, Dutton Records, and an exciting collaboration with award-winning vocalist Clare Teal on MUD Records. He also has extensive broadcasting experience, frequently appearing on BBC Radio, Classic FM and BBC television. In 2009, he was appointed Artistic Director of the City of Oxford Orchestra, and in 2013 was delighted to take up the post of Associate Conductor, Hallé Pops. His diverse repertoire, versatility and aptitude for communication with audiences of all genres, has led to exciting conducting projects with an eclectic range of artists from instrumentalists Jack Liebeck, Guy Johnston, Xeufei Yang, Julian Lloyd Webber, Alan Opie, Peter Donohoe, Julian Bliss, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Mark Simpson, Joanna MacGregor, Stephen Hough, Amy Dickson and The Chieftains, to singers Katie Melua, Katherine Jenkins, Noah Stewart, Alfie Boe, John Barrowman, Tony Hadley, Natasha Marsh, Chris De Burgh, Hayley Westenra, Louise Dearman, Alexandra Burke, Clare Teal and Michael Ball. Previous seasons’ highlights include the Queen’s Jubilee Concert at Chatsworth House, the Royal Festival Hall tribute concert for Stanley Black, conducting a gala event at Windsor Castle for Prince Charles, the Westminster Abbey Memorial Concert for Alastair Cooke, the award-winning Pitch Perfect at Wembley for BBCTV’s Children in Need with the BBC Singers and the televised Music Nation concert from the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow. From 2005 to 2010, Stephen was invited to conduct the annual televised BBC Proms in the Park with the BBC Philharmonic, and since 2011, has appeared every year on the live TV broadcasts of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s Last Night of the Proms celebrations. Back in 2008, the hugely successful Doctor Who Prom represented his Royal Albert Hall Proms début, and subsequently he has returned to the BBC Proms in 2012 conducting the Northern Sinfonia, and again in 2014 conducting the BBC Philharmonic for two televised Proms. His 2016/2017 Season includes further engagements with orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, Hallé, Orkest van het Oosten (Netherlands), RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
BEDFORD CHORAL
Society
Bedford Choral Society members will be making their seventeenth appearance at Bedford Proms on 6 August 2016. We are the second oldest established choral society in the UK, formed in 1867. Please look out for our 150 year celebrations next year. In March 2016 our sell-out concert of Handel’s “Messiah” was felt to be one of our very best performances ever. It was as usual held in Bedford’s historic Corn Exchange. On 18 June we sang music written by living composers. John Rutter’s joyous “Magnificat” was very well received. We tested ourselves with the minimalist Berliner Mass by Arvo Part and probably reached a pass grade. On 19 November we invite you to our all Mozart concert. If you are interested in singing with us for our 150th year, please contact us through our website: www.bedfordchoralsociety.org.uk. We are very grateful that our Director of Music, Ian Smith, rehearses us with infinite patience, while we are accompanied by the thoroughly professional Tim Grant-Jones. Oxford University researchers have found extracts from certain pieces of music improve heart health. Mozart reduces blood pressure. Verdi, Puccini and Beethoven provide ideal rhythms to calm and protect hearts. We hope you enjoy “Grand March” from Aida, especially for your hearts tonight. Choir members are looking forward to singing one of our favourite pieces “Zadok the Priest” to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. We want everyone in the audience to join in with us, twirling umbrellas and waving flags for Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.
In March 2016 our sell-out concert of Handel’s “Messiah” was felt to be one of our very best performances ever.
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PILGRIMS PRE PREP CHOIR Pilgrims School is the Harpur Trust Pre Prep and is open to children from 3 months to 7 years. Our choir is made up of pupils from Year 1 and Year 2 and the children enjoy performing at various events in school and in the local community. This is the second time the choir has been invited to perform at Bedford’s ‘Proms in the Park’ and the children have been busy practicing their songs during their weekly after school choir club. This year they will be performing ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite’, ‘Consider Yourself’, ‘Amani Utupe’ and ‘Sing’.
BEDFORD TOWN BAND Bedford Town Band formed in 1894 and is proud to use the Bedford town’s crest as its emblem. The Bedford Town Band is the premier band in the area of Bedford. The Town Band have recently appointed a new Musical Director – Steve Phillips and a Resident Conductor Iain Rayner.
Bedford Town Band has a varied calendar of events comprising of traditional bandstand concerts, formal concerts in a variety of venues in the area, concerts in the iconic Bedford Corn Exchange with choral groups and youth orchestras, Whit Friday Marches and the playing of carols at Christmas. The band caters for advanced, experienced players and rehearses twice a week. The Town Band plays in the First Section of the National Brass Band grading scheme and try to enter about three contests each year.
Tonight their programme includes: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Let it Go Gabriel’s Oboe Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Star Wars (arr Farr)
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BLAKE Stephen, Humphrey and Ollie all found their love of music at a young age and sang with various groups and choirs throughout their childhood. Their passion for music continues to grow and they wanted to share this with the communities they would be visiting on their tour. “We thought about how we could involve school choirs and local community choirs in our live shows, and that getting some of the choirs up on stage with us would be a great experience for both them and us” – Oliver Baines, Tenor. BLAKE have an impressive list of achievements including several No. 1s, multi-platinum selling albums and over 150 TV appearances, as well as having won a Brit Award for Album of the Year. Famous fans include Keira Knightley, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Will Smith. The trio tour constantly and take part in a vast amount of charity work, from performing for the Queen and Prince Harry at the Festival of Remembrance and the launch of the Walking With The Wounded South Pole Challenge, to working with the ‘Sing to Beat Breast Cancer’ Choir. Other charities they have supported include Help For Heroes, The British Legion and MIND. They have fans worldwide, which has sent them on tours to the Philippines, South Korea, Barbados, Russia, and even at the White House in the US.
In addition to their worldwide touring schedule, Blake also find time to perform and work as ambassadors for their many selected charities, which include, amongst others, Cancer Research, The War Widows Association, The World Wildlife Fund, Clic Sargent, The Prince’s Trust, Variety (The Children’s Charity), MIND, Starlight, The Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and Walking With The Wounded. The band continue to do much work for military charities, most famously fundraising for, and performing at the opening of the Bomber Command Memorial in London for the Queen and 5,000 veterans. Last Christmas saw Blake team up with the incredible Dame Shirley Bassey for an spectacular version of ‘The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)’. With appearances on The Graham Norton Show and Strictly Come Dancing, The One Show and many more it was the most incredible Christmas ever for the group. 2017 will be their 10th year together and they have lots of great plans lined up. Keep up with their news on www.blakeofficial.com
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Affectionately named ‘The People’s Soprano’ by fans, colleagues and the media, singersongwriter Rebecca Newman stormed into number one in the Official UK Classical Albums Chart with her debut chart release in September 2014, outselling new releases by a number of major international stars in the process. In doing so, she has secured her position as one of the most exciting sopranos the UK has seen for a long time! Demand for her eagerly awaited new album was so great that on day one of release Amazon completely sold out following a live studio interview on BBC One Yorkshire and during the week HMV stores up and down the country also sold out.
Rebecca subsequently toured with the UK’s biggest selling classical artist, the tenor Russell Watson, on his Up Close and Personal Tour, between March and July 2015, performing to almost 50,000 people. She has also shared the stage with tenor superstar Alfie Boe, with Aled Jones, with Classic Brit award winners Blake, toured with the legendary Welsh entertainer Max Boyce and smash hit vocal group G4. Rebecca’s album shot back into the classical charts following a highly acclaimed live performance and interview on BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan in July 2015. She has been interview live on the sofa on BBC Breakfast and performed twice on BBC1 Songs of Praise. Rebecca’s music is often heard on regional BBC radio, BBC Radio 2 and Classic FM. Rebecca’s chart topping album was independently funded and was a culmination of a decade of performances, which started out on the streets of the UK where she performed as an operatic busker, gaining a large and loyal fanbase. The album featured original songs she has written as well as well known operatic arias, show songs, folk and pop. Backed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted and arranged by Paul Bateman, the album has received critical acclaim and sold many thousands of copies. Rebecca is truly one of the most hard working musicians you could meet. Before her chart success, Rebecca had already sold over 15,000 albums as an independent artist, headlined her own twenty date UK tour, appeared on regional ITV1, BBC1 and BBC Radio, sung the national anthems live on TV for several international televised sporting events and shared the stage with stars like Russell Watson and Aled Jones. Rebecca discovered her soprano voice in her early teens. Even though she did not come from a musical family, as a teenager she twice won a place with the prestigious National Youth Music Theatre, as one of only 150 youngsters chosen from over 4,000 hopefuls across the UK. Her debut stage role was playing Julie Jordan in the musical Carousel at only 14. She washed dishes in a local pub kitchen to afford singing lessons and passed her ABRSM Grade 8 singing exam at only 17. That same year she performed at The Royal Albert Hall for the Cancer Research 75th Anniversary Gala Concert. Her unusual journey has inspired her songwriting and her performance style, with more original songs on the horizon for her next album and exciting projects in the pipeline. You can keep up to date with Rebecca on social media and on her website www.rebeccanewman.co.uk.
one of the then-known planets except Earth (Pluto wasn’t discovered until 1932). Jupiter – ‘The Bringer of Jollity’ – contrasts two irrepressibly lively outer sections with a broad central melody, popularly sung to the words ‘I vow to Thee my Country’. Ama Credi E Vai:
Because We Believe
COMPOSERS NOTES
“Because We Believe” is a song by Italian pop tenor Andrea Bocelli. It was co-written by Bocelli, multiple Grammy Award winner David Foster and his daughter Amy Foster, for the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where it was performed by Bocelli. The song first appeared as a solo version in Bocelli’s 2006 album Amore, and later in his 2007, greatest hits album, The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere.
Aaron Copland:
Morricone:
Fanfare for the Common Man During World War 1 the distinguished English composer and conductor Eugene Goosens commissioned special concert fanfares from a number of British composers. He decided to repeat the experiment during World War 2, by which time he had taken up a long term conducting post with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and requested a series of short, festive openers from a number of American composers. The contributors included Walter Piston, Henry Cowell, Virgil Thomson, Morton Gould and Paul Creston, but by far the most successful and popular of the pieces submitted was Aaron Copland’s sonorous Fanfare for the Common Man for brass and percussion. Smetana:
The Bartered Bride Smetana’s celebrated opera, The Bartered Bride, is a frothy operatic comedy concerning two lovers who are almost married off to the ‘wrong’ partner but as the result of various ludicrous machinations become united in the end. Whatever the plot’s shortcomings, the music itself is abundantly tuneful as is borne out by the popular Overture and various Czech-style dances, which punctuate the action from time to time. Handel:
Zadok the Priest When King George I died quite suddenly and unexpectedly while on a trip to Hanover, Handel was called upon by his successor, George II,
to compose four anthems for him imminent coronation. Unbelievably, in addition to all his other commitments, Handel had all four masterpieces completed within the month, all the more astonishing as Zadok the Priest is arguably the finest work of its type ever written – and certainly the most popular. Scored for mixed choir, three trumpets, two oboes, timpani, organ and strong orchestra, the impact of the choir’s first entry and the central exclamation – ‘God save the King! Long live the King!’ – remain uniquely thrilling. Bizet:
Habanera This is Bizet’s Iberian barnstormer Carmen’s smouldering ‘Habanera’, during which she exudes enough seductive charm to turn any many to putty. It is one of music’s most bizarre coincidences that at the exact moment Bizet passed away, the singer playing Carmen that very night was suddenly filled with a strange sense of foreboding, promptly ran screaming off stage and fainted. Tchaikovsky, a great admirer of Bizet’s, could not play the tragic final scene “without tears in my eyes.” Holst:
Jupiter: The Planets Gustav Holst’s posthumous reputation rests almost entirely on one blazingly inspired work – The Planets (1914 – 1916). This sublime masterpiece remains the ultimate musical guide to the solar system, yet Holst apparently never thought all that highly of it. Cast in seven movements, each depicts
Nella Fantasia Translated as “In My Fantasy” this is a beautiful song sung in Italian based on the theme “Gabriel’s Oboe” from the 1986 film The Mission. With music by composer Ennio Morricone and lyrics by Chiara Ferraù, “Nella Fantasia” was originally released in 1998 by Sarah Brightman. Boublil/Schönberg/Kretzmer:
Les Misérables: Bring Him Home This emotional plea from Jean Valjean is sung the night before the storming of the barricade in Paris during the 1832 Uprising. As Marius, the true love of his ward Cosette, sleeps, Valjean prays to God to protect him, even at the cost of his own life. The musical was based on the novel by Victor Hugo of the same name, and was much maligned when premiered at the Barbican in 1985, but is still today attracting full houses in the West End. Strauss:
Tritch Tratsh Polka One of Strauss’s most popular miniatures, the Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, gained its name from a contemporary satirical weekly publication, a sort of Viennese Private Eye. Perhaps the single most extraordinary things about the composer of this unforgettable miniature was that he himself was a terrible dancer. He once confided to a friend during one of his early concerts: ‘That’s why I have to give a firm “no” to the many tempting and alluring invitations to the dance.’
Shostakovich:
Jazz Suite No. 2 The Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 is a suite by Dmitri Shostakovich. It was written in 1938 for the newly founded State Jazz Orchestra of Victor Knushevitsky, and was premiered on 28 November 1938 in Moscow (Moscow Radio) by the State Jazz Orchestra. The score was lost during World War II, but a piano score of the work was rediscovered in 1999 by Manashir Yakubov. Three movements of the suite were reconstructed and orchestrated by Gerard McBurney, and were premiered at a London Promenade Concert in 2000. Lovland:
You Raise Me Up “You Raise Me Up” is a song that was originally composed by the duo Secret Garden. The music was written by Secret Garden’s Rolf Løvland and the lyrics by Brendan Graham. After the song was performed early in 2002 by the Secret Garden and their invited lead singer, Brian Kennedy, the song only became a minor UK hit. The song has been recorded by more than a hundred other artists including Josh Groban, who popularized the song in 2003; his rendition became a hit in the United States. The Irish band Westlife then popularised the song in the United Kingdom two years later. Interval
Jennings, Nitzsche & Sainte-Marie:
Puccini: Turandot:
Up Where We Belong is a Platinum-certified, Grammy Award-winning hit song written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Will Jennings. It was recorded by Joe Cocker (lead vocals) and Jennifer Warnes (lead and background vocals) for the smash 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. Up Where We Belong won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1983. It also won the BAFTA Film Awards for Best Original Song in 1984. Cocker and Warnes also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1983 for their rendition of this song. In 2004 it finished at #75 in AFI’s 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.
In Puccini’s mesmerising Oriental opera, Calaf rashly determines to win Turandot, the ice-cold Princess of Peking. He answers three riddles, thus avoiding execution, but Turandot still refuses to marry him. Calaf agreed to die for her if she can discover his name before dawn. She fails, as he has predicted in his aria ‘Nessun Dorma’ (a hit for Pavarotti during the 1980 World Cup). Calaf eventually tells her his name and her resistance subsides with a kiss.
Where We belong
Prokofiev:
Montagues and Capulets Montagues and Capulets, known by its proper title as Dance of the Knights, is a work of classical music written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev for his 1935 ballet Romeo and Juliet. He later wrote versions for both orchestra and piano. Verdi:
Aida – The Grand March Verdi’s Technicolor Egyptian blockbuster features enough spectacle and set pieces to rival many a Cecil B. De Millie move. Aida loves Radames. However, she is tricked into revealing her affections by her jealous mistress, Amneris. Radames’s hold over the Egyptians (reflected in the glorious March we hear tonight) leads Aida’s father to persuade her to extract military secrets from him. Amneris overhears the subsequent meeting but offers to spare Radames if he rejects Aida. He refuses and is walled up inside a tomb where Aida secretly joins him. Holst:
I Vow To Thee My Country I Vow to Thee, My Country” is a British patriotic song, created in 1921. The origin of the hymn’s text is a poem by diplomat Cecil Spring Rice, which he wrote in 1908 or 1912, entitled Urbs Dei (“The City of God”) or The Two Fatherlands. The poem described how a Christian owes his loyalties to both his homeland and the heavenly kingdom.
Nessun Dorma
Puccini:
Vissi d’Arte Vissi d’arte” is a soprano aria from act 2 of the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. It is sung by Floria Tosca as she thinks of her fate, how the life of her beloved, Mario Cavaradossi, is at the mercy of Baron Scarpia and why God has seemingly abandoned her. Foster/Bayer Sager:
The Prayer
Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa and Tony Renisi, The Prayer is most commonly known as a duet between Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, (originally recorded as two separate solo versions, Dion’s in English and Bocelli’s in Italian) winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song from the 1998 film Quest for Camelot. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1999 and a Grammy Award in 2000. Sartori:
Time To Say Goodbye Francesco Sartori (born 1957) is an Italian composer and piano and trumpet player best known for composing “Con te partirò” (“With you, I will leave”) with Lucio Quarantotto for Andrea Bocelli. The song was also recorded as a duet entitled “Time to Say Goodbye” with Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. Khachaturian:
Sabre Dance The “Sabre Dance is a movement in the final act of Aram Khachaturian’s ballet Gayane (1942), where the dancers display their skill with sabres. It is Khachaturian’s best-known and most recognizable work.
The piece “has entered the realm of popular music as one of the 20th century’s signature pieces. It was further made popular by covers by pop artists, first in the US and later in other countries, such as the UK and Germany. It’s use in a wide range of films and TV series over the decades have significantly contributed to its renown. Elgar:
Nimrod Elgar was a many-sided and fun-loving man. He was fond of word games and puzzles and incorporated several riddles, one at least still argued over by musicologists, which is his Enigma Variations. Each variation is a portrait of a friend by initials or, as in this example, by a punning nickname. Elgar’s editorial adviser was A.J. Jaegar, a German living in London. His name translates into English as ‘hunter’ and Nimrod is the mighty hunter of Greek myth. Wood:
Parry:
Jerusalem Another traditional flag-waver, ‘Jerusalem’ was composed in 1916 by the doyen of English lateRomantic composers. Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848 – 1918). Six years later it was orchestrated by none other than Elgar. Current research would now seem to suggest that William Blake’s familiar ‘dark satanic mills’ (verse 1) may well be a heavily veiled ironic reference to the very English churches that the lines appear to uphold.
Fantasia on British Sea Songs: Hornpipe
Elgar:
When the talented twenty-six-year-old conductor, Henry Wood, raised his baton at 8.00pm on 10 August 1895 for the start of the first in a series of ‘promenade concerts’, he could hardly have envisaged the impact this would have not only on the rest of his professional life but on the musical culture of the entire nation. Remarkably, Henry Wood, later ‘Sir Henry’, would go on to devise and conduct virtually every ‘promenade concert’ for the next fifty years, often including his own Fantasia on British Sea Songs, which has become a regular fixture ever since.
Borrowing the title from a phrase in Shakespeare’s Othello, Elgar composed his first of five Pomp and Circumstance Marches in 1901. Little did he know that the central melody would soon rival God Save the Queen in popularity – particularly when sung to the words of Laurence Housman’s Land of Hope and Glory. After conducting the first Promenade performance, Sir Henry Wood reported: ‘The people simply rose and yelled. I had to play it again – with the same result…Merely to restore order, I played the march a third time’.
Pomp and Circumstance March No 1
Arne arr.Sargent:
Rossini:
Rule Britannia
William Tell overture
Another popular favourite during the ‘Last Night of the Proms’, ‘Rule Britannia’, was the memorable creation of one Thomas Arne (1710 – 1778) who first included it in his 1740 masque, Alfred. Arne was an enormously prolific composer, whose tally of stage works ran to over one hundred, including seven based on Shakespeare alone. In addition he wrote many songs, odes, cantatas, sonatas, overtures, catches, canons, glees, symphonies and some ballet music, yet he appears doomed to be remembered almost exclusively for this indefatigable outburst of chest-beating patriotism.
The William Tell Overture is the overture to the opera William Tell whose music was composed by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini’s 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal music. The overture is in four parts, each following without pause. There has been repeated use (and sometimes parody) of parts of this overture in both classical music and popular media, most famously as the theme music for The Lone Ranger in radio, television and film. It was also used as the theme music for the British television series The Adventures of William Tell.
Hotel • Dining • Events
Summer Dining Promotions Enjoy seasonal delights daily whilst overlooking the stunning River Great Ouse. Open from lunchtime to late evening, Barns Hotel is the perfect place to unwind and relax. Monday: Trout and Bubbles from £9.95 Tuesday: Burger and Beer from £9.95 Wednesday: 50% off food
Thursday: Mussels and a Glass of Riesling from £9.95 Friday: BBQ Platter and a Glass of Sangria from £9.95
Saturday: Cromer Crab from £12.95
Please call us on 01234 270044 Cardington Road | Bedford | Bedfordshire | MK44 3SA
Your Christmas Party Night at The Bedford Swan Hotel
T 01234 270044 | www.barnshotelbedford.co.uk
Feast on delicious food, take advantage of our drinks offers and dance the night away to our resident DJ. Mingle with others at one of our ‘join a party nights’ or book your own private party for an unforgettable event. Please note that minimum numbers apply for private parties.
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From £25 per person Includes Bucks Fizz on arrival
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Call our Christmas Co-ordinator now on 01234 346565 or email info@bedfordswanhotel.co.uk The Bedford Swan Hotel
The Embankment, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1RW
www.bedfordswanhotel.co.uk
0808 20 20 888
LEGAL COVER LIKE NO OTHER
Good food, good
company and a good night’s sleep are at the heart of what we do. Our 11 bedrooms have been redesigned in keeping with this eighteenth-century coaching inn, and our lunch and dinner menus are created around distinctive dishes using the best regional produce. You’re welcome any day of the week and we look forward to meeting you…
Fantastic Fireworks return to light up the skies over Bedford not only with their impressive portfolio of national and international displays but as the current British Fireworks Champions. The company won the accolade for a second time at the annual event in Plymouth where tens of thousands of spectators lined the famous Hoe to witness their awesome display. ‘It was the icing on the cake for us’ said the company’s managing director Jon Culverhouse. ‘It came in our 30th anniversary year so we really did have something to celebrate.’ Fantastic Fireworks will be bringing their awardwinning skills to Bedford where the skies will literally glow in a kaleidoscope of colour as more than 5,000 stars dance in time to the music. Their thunderous finale will include beautiful goldtailed comets, fantastic bouquets of sky filling star bursts, rapid fire roman candles and the pièce de résistance, brightly coloured flares which will leap out of the lake and light up the sky in a frenzy of fire!
Another stunning effect returning to Bedford this year, of which Fantastic are particularly proud, is their ‘ghost shell’. You can’t miss this stunning ball of fire when it bursts in a giant sphere of white stars at a height of nearly 1000 feet! The ‘wow factor’ moment comes when each star turns a ghostly green in a magical Mexican Wave! The man pressing the buttons to fire the show is Tony Freedman, who doubles as an easyJet pilot when he’s not pursuing his favourite pastime of putting on fireworks displays. Talking about the challenges of designing and firing to live music Tony says that it is the choreography of the fireworks to the music which most impresses the audience. It is such a precise science for Fantastic that they spend many weeks planning the show, listening to the pieces of music and liaising with the musical director. ‘The key for us is to know the pace which the conductor sets’ says Tony. ‘We get his score in advance, plan the show and then check the timings during rehearsal. It is vital that the finale is perfect and we all end together. We have only one chance to get it right on the night. It always has to be a perfect end to the evening.’
LASER GRAFIX Laser Grafix has over 25 years of laser display experience worldwide, with offices and a full range of laser display equipment stocked in the UK and Dubai. Specialising in both live operated laser effects for international touring artists and live events, and spectacular pre-programmed laser displays for large productions, corporate events and television, Laser Grafix has a wealth of experience for you to draw on. With extensive creative technical know-how and the latest available technology, Laser Grafix is the leading choice for all.
STAR EVENTS Market Square Potton, Beds, SG19 2NP 01767 260221 | mail@coachhousepotton.co.uk
www.coachhousepotton.co.uk
Star Events provides stages, grandstands and other infrastructure to major festivals and events across the world, but today is a truly ‘home gig’ as the company is based in Thurleigh, just 6 miles from Bedford Park. Many of the company’s staff and its original founder live in Bedford. Today Star Events has built the stage, the structures for the sound equipment, the towers and gantries that hold the signage and the raised floors that give the VIPs such a great view. Find out more about us and employment opportunities at www.StarEventsLtd.com.
Find the perfect f it for your child at Polam
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS Exciting Times And Events
EARLY YEARS 3-5 YEARS NURSERY 1-3 YEARS
KEY STAGE 1 5-7 YEARS
ODELLS SHOES
KEY STAGE 2 7-9 YEARS
Sales & Traditional Repair Services Established 1917 Stockists: Loakes quality men’s shoes and Cosyfeet extra roomy for problem feet
Swimming | Music | Languages | PE See www.polamschool.co.uk for Open Days Telephone: 01234 261864 admissions@polamschool.co.uk 43-45 Lansdowne Road, Bedford MK40 2BU
8 St Cuthberts Street, Bedford MK40 3JB Telephone: 01234 358979
Polam School is part of the Cognita Schools Group www.cognitaschools.com
Oddells OVL.indd 1
18/01/2016 15:43
20TH ANNIVERSARY
Proms Print
Tabitha Mary is a local graphic designer working as a freelancer to local and national businesses and also selling her own design prints inspired by the old railway posters. You can view her travel prints on her website www.tabithamary.co.uk Tabitha was commissioned to design a commemorative print to celebrate our 20th Proms. Tabitha is here tonight selling the Proms print, please do go along and see her. Special Offer: For anyone that has purchased a proms brochure you can get 15% off your Proms print by quoting proms2016. This code can be used on Tabitha’s website at checkout and is valid until end of September.
The Full Effect The Full Effect are one of the regions premiere event organisers, specialising in producing some of the most stylish events around which include many private events in homes and gardens around the UK. They are the sister company to LPH Concerts Ltd who have organised tonight! Headed up by Mark Harrison who along with his team have skillfully mastered client’s enquiries and turned them into reality for the past twenty years. TFE produce both corporate launches and exhibitions through to running private birthday and anniversary parties. Have a look at their website www.thefulleffect.co.uk for further insight into what they do.
Shh! It’s a secret but…
Having been asked for many years, Mark and his team are pleased to announce that they will be producing one of the most stylish Balls ever to be seen in the region next Summer. Taking place in the grounds of a private home in Bedfordshire, the team will be bringing in their preferred London caterers and florists to produce this opulent event for up to 700 guests. Save the date in your diary, it’s 23rd September 2017, and to receive further information and reserve your place, go onto our website and complete the form under the Summer Ball tab. www.thefulleffect.co.uk
Proud to sponsor
‘Bedford Park Concerts’
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
three day music concert
Quite Please! Out of respect for all music lovers here tonight, we would ask you and your children to remain quite during the performance. We thank you for your consideration. Catering A range of refreshments is available to purchase, including food and a selection of wines and beers from the bar. Gazebos and other structures Should you have brought along any form of structure, please respect the other members of the audience by ensuring it is positioned in one of the designated areas for gazebos. Candles Please note that in the interest of public safety naked flames or flares are not allowed. Candles are only permitted if they are covered or enclosed. Thank you. Videos Video or audio recording of the concert is not permitted as this contravenes copyright law. Restricted Areas For safety reasons please do not enter any restricted area. Litter We ask you to take your litter home with you tonight, to allow us to hand the park back as we found it. Should you require litter bags, then please ask at the information marquee. Thank you. To keep up to date For news and exclusive ticket offers, register on our website: www.bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk
About our Principle Charity – The Beds & Northants MS Therapy Centre The Beds & Northants MS Therapy Centre is a self-help organisation and provides professional support and therapy to MS sufferers and their families. The centre is run by a fantastic team of professional people with around forty volunteers working in the background, many of whom have MS themselves. The volunteers play a huge part in the running of the Centre on a day-to-day basis and we would not be able to operate without them. More volunteers are always very welcome. The Management Committee (Trustees) consists of 10 people who either have MS, are carers or are close friends of people with MS, or have a relative professional experience. These people can use their personal experience and professional expertise when making decisions about the Centre. The Centre needs to raise £400,000 per year to run. www.mscentrebedsandnorthants.com/
Our range of services enable us to look at your land and property from a different perspective. Call us at your nearest office. Bedford 01234 352201
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BMW
Elms Bedford
The Ultimate Driving Machine
ELMS BEDFORD, YOUR LOCAL BMW RETAILER.
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF BEDFORD PARK CONCERTS.
As an authorised BMW Centre, Elms Bedford offers the highest levels of service and expertise to the local area. Whether it’s a new or BMW Approved Used Car, or even a service, our commitment is to maintain the highest of BMW Retailer standards.
For more information or to arrange a test drive*, call us on 01234 639855 or visit www.elmsbedfordbmw.co.uk
ELMS BEDFORD
Clifton Parc, Caxton Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK41 0GL
01234 639855
*Test drive subject to applicant status and availability.
www.elmsbedfordbmw.co.uk