Gloucestershire Advertising feature
Philip, the conductor
After more than 18 months of disruption, audiences can at last enjoy ‘The Snowman’ at Christmas again, as the Mozart Symphony Orchestra returns to Cheltenham with a live performance and screening of the popular Raymond Briggs film.
The Snowman’s back!
F
or one day only the commented how special Mozart Symphony it is to watch the film as a Orchestra performs its live orchestra provides the popular Christmas concert in soundtrack, while The Times Cheltenham, fresh from its newspaper wrote, “You would appearance in London. be hard pushed to find a more On Thursday 23 December magical Christmas experience.” the orchestra performs the Additionally, the programme soundtrack to Raymond features the tale of Paddington Briggs’ film ‘The Snowman’ at Bear, for the first time using Cheltenham Town Hall, with the the format of a narrator movie showing simultaneously and orchestra together. on the big screen. Twelve-yearThe performance witnesses old Alice Mackenzie makes her Paddington arriving at the fourth appearance with the famous London railway station orchestra singing the song which gives him his name, ‘Walking in the Air’, made so to be adopted by the Brown famous by Aled Jones nearly family and taken to his very forty years ago. first concert at the Royal Albert First shown on 26 Hall. Needless to December 1982, the say, Paddington film was an immediate makes an an m success, nominated absolute w o n for the Academy (but The Su 23 Dec n Hall Th m Tow all. Award for Best innocent) enhaamtownh t l Animated Short nuisance e h C tenh k Film, winning a of himself, chel co.u 8746 2 BAFTA TV Award. disrupting 42 5 2 1 0 It has since become the concert a staple of Christmas and, in the family viewing, performed end, conducting in Cheltenham by the orchestra the orchestra! Listen out for every Christmas since the sounds of the jungle, Mr 2015, with one well-known Gruber’s clock shop and most exception! thrillingly of all, the trains Audiences have often in Paddington Station – all
04 OCTOBER HALF TERM 2021
created using the instruments available in the orchestra. The Mozart Symphony Orchestra of London is a new, contemporary ensemble and one of the most exciting orchestras to emerge from London’s vibrant classical music scene in recent years. The capital has a much-deserved reputation as a leading city in the world of classical music and the Mozart Symphony Orchestra is a vital part of that. Its famous children’s concerts are designed not just as pure entertainment but also as a fun way to introduce children to the amazing sound world of the symphony orchestra. All in all, ‘The Snowman’ is the ideal Christmas treat for all the family.
Philip Mackenzie, the conductor of The Mozart Symphony Orchestra, started learning the piano aged 8 and the cello aged 9. He also took organ lessons in a big, draughty church from a teacher with wild white hair who was very old indeed - even older than Philip is now. After taking a degree in music, he went on to learn how to be a conductor at the Royal College of Music, London. When Philip grew up he discovered that being a conductor is brilliant! He has travelled all over the world, conducting orchestras in Russia, China, India, Singapore and South Africa. While he travels he likes to go exploring and is sometimes offered all sorts of weirdly wonderful foods such as Roast Snake (yes, true, even though it sounds like something from the Gruffalo!), Snake Stew and some kind of Slimy Sea Slug in a Green Custard . . . bleugh. (Philip would much rather eat Chocolate Cake). He has performed several times on radio and television, including a TV programme in which he taught ‘Top Gear’ presenter James May how to conduct.
The Snowman tickets are available from the Cheltenham Town Hall box office: Cheltenhamtownhall. co.uk or on 01242 528764. There are two performances on Thursday 23 December at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. The shows last approximately one and a half hours (including an interval during which children may just get an ice cream!)
primarytimes.co.uk/gloucestershire
