News and Reviews

News: Pinxton Musician
Dec 16 2009

Pinxton musician Graham Hall's work will again take centre stage at this year's popular sinfona ViVA New Year's Eve Classical Gala at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall.

Graham, who is the timpanist and one of the original members of sinfonia ViVA, has arranged A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square – a romantic British song composed by Manning Sherwin in 1940. It will be performed by the Orchestra as part of the 'London Calling' Gala Concert on December 31 which will this year treat concert goers to a quintessentially English programme.

Graham is married to ViVA violinist Janet Hall and started his musical career with Nottinghamshire County Youth Orchestra before winning a coveted place at London’s Royal Academy of Music. He said: "I arranged a medley of Scottish tunes for last year's New Year's Eve concert and was delighted with the response from the audience so was more than happy to put pen to manuscript again this year for 'London Calling'. I wanted to showcase the flexibility of talent within the Orchestra with this piece and have given this wonderfully nostalgic tune more of a jazz feel, taking my inspiration from such great orchestrators as Mancini and Robert Russell Bennett."

He continued: "The flutes and strings really take centre stage in this adaptation and it shows that the Orchestra can turn its hand to virtually any style of music which is something that we are all rightly proud of. The piece fits in perfectly with the proms feel of the programme and I hope that the audience enjoy what I have done with this popular wartime classic."

The local connection in this toe-tapping programme, under the baton of 'Mr New Year’s Eve' and ViVA's Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kok, continues with the Knightsbridge March by Hucknall-born composer Eric Coates (1886-1957).

When Knightsbridge March, from Coates' London Suite - with its traffic noises, street cries and fanfares - was chosen to introduce the BBC's new radio feature 'In Town Tonight' in 1933, thousands of listeners rang the BBC to request the title of the tantalising few bars they had just heard and 20,000 letters descended on the BBC asking the composer's name. Gramophone records of the march could not be made fast enough. Like his favourite poet, Byron, Eric Coates woke up one morning to find himself famous. 'In Town Tonight' became a national institution and ran for 27 years and Eric Coates became England's best known composer at home and abroad. His melodies were whistled in the streets as well as sung in concert halls.

Other highlights in the programme includes Vaughan-Williams' The Lark Ascending, Elgar's Salut d'Amour and Walton's Crown Imperial – written for the coronation of King George VI.

In the not-so-familiar category there is Charles Ives' Variations on America (a set of variations on God Save the Queen!) and a host of Strauss favourites including some written when he was living in London as well as one of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches (No.4).

Nicholas Kok concluded: "I am particularly pleased that we are again showcasing the talents of local composer Eric Coates and our own Graham Hall whose works will feature alongside some of the best known names in classical music. And, of course, it is great to be featuring Benedict Holland as soloist in The Lark Ascending."

Early booking is advised for this hugely popular concert, which has been sold out for the past two years. Popular Premium seats are again available and the booking includes a free programme, a £3 bar voucher on the night and a free Vaughan Williams CD (which includes The Lark Ascending).

Tickets are on sale now from the Royal Centre Box Office, Tel 0115 989 5555. Prices start from £7.50

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones - Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665 sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk