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More Glass Than Wall: Bess in Buxton

Tuesday 15th July 2008, 5.00 - 6.15pm
St. John's Church, Buxton
Tickets: £10.00, £5.00 children, on sale from April 18th
Contact Box Office on 0845 1272 190 for details

More Glass Than Wall logo

More Glass than Wall is a new commission to mark the 400th Anniversary of the death of Bess of Hardwick. sinfonia ViVA is working with Cathy Grindrod (former Derbyshire Poet Laureate), nationally acclaimed composer James Redwood and 180 young people from Derby and Derbyshire for the world premiere of this new Oratorio celebrating the life of one of Derbyshire's most famous personalities.

Creative writing and music workshops have been taking place in six Derby and Bolsover schools between October 2007 and June 2008 with the young people working with Cathy Grindrod, James Redwood and a team of sinfonia ViVA and Children's Music Workshop musicians to create words and music inspired by a visit to Hardwick Hall.

The new commission along with the pieces created in the workshops was first performed by the young people, sinfonia ViVA and soloists at the Assembly Rooms, Derby on 11th June and at Hardwick Hall on 12th June 2008.

Children from four schools in the Buxton area have been involved in a separate project which culminates with More Glass Than Wall being performed tonight as part of the Buxton Festival.

The project is organised in conjunction with sinfonia VIVA, Children’s Music Workshop, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, the National Trust and Orchestras Live.

Visit the Buxton Festival website for more details of the Festival.

The project has kindly been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Bolsover District Council, Rolls-Royce plc, Derbyshire Community Foundation, Local Network Fund, Bridging the Gap, The Foyle Foundation, The Cumberland Trust, The Gladys Jones Charitable Trust, The Mercers Charitable Foundation, Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement, The John Thaw Foundation, Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation, PRS Foundation for new music, Ernest Cook Foundation, Orchestras Live, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.