COVER STORY

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!

For one day only the Mozart Symphony Orchestra performs its popular Christmas concert in Cheltenham, fresh from its appearance in London.

On Thursday 23 December the orchestra performs the soundtrack to Raymond Briggs’ film ‘The Snowman’ at Cheltenham Town Hall, with the movie showing simultaneously on the big screen. Twelve-yearold Alice Mackenzie makes her fourth appearance with the orchestra singing the song ‘Walking in the Air’, made so famous by Aled Jones nearly forty years ago.

First shown on 26 December 1982, the film was an immediate success, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, winning a BAFTA TV Award. It has since become a staple of Christmas family viewing, performed in Cheltenham by the orchestra every Christmas since 2015, with one well-known exception!

Audiences have often commented how special it is to watch the film as a live orchestra provides the soundtrack, while The Times newspaper wrote, “You would be hard pushed to find a more magical Christmas experience.” Additionally, the programme features the tale of Paddington Bear, for the first time using the format of a narrator and orchestra together. The performance witnesses Paddington arriving at the famous London railway station which gives him his name, to be adopted by the Brown family and taken to his very first concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Needless to say, Paddington The Snowman Thu 23 Dec Cheltenham Town Hall cheltenhamtownhall. co.uk 01242 528746 makes an absolute (but innocent) nuisance of himself, disrupting the concert and, in the end, conducting the orchestra! Listen out for the sounds of the jungle, Mr Gruber’s clock shop and most thrillingly of all, the trains in Paddington Station – all 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.

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!)

Philip, the conductor

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.