'Grandest festival yet' in heart of Elgar country
This year's festival will also celebrate the work of Ian Venables, who artistic director Kenneth Woods described as "Worcester's second-greatest composer".Venables is 70 in July and his work, which includes art songs and chamber music, is expected to feature in a number of performances across the UK and US.He said it was an "exciting time" and that he planned a number of activities this week working with "young singers and talented composers who will be the next generation of aspiring musicians".
Like Elgar, some of Venables' work has been inspired by the countryside around Worcestershire, including his Song of the Severn. "The very first work I composed when I moved to Worcester in 1986 was Pastorale for violin and piano," he said. "It was inspired by one of my earliest excursions into the Worcestershire countryside to visit Elgar's grave and climb the Malvern Hills."
Since it began in 2018, the festival "has doubled in size and scale", organisers said.It promises to bring together "world-class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles".Highlights this year include the Gala Concert by the English Symphony Orchestra and the Elgar Festival Chorus at Worcester Cathedral on 31 May.Throughout the festival, The Guildhall in Worcester will have an exhibition of Elgar memorabilia on loan from private collections.The event will also include orchestral performances, recitals, choral events and other activities.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise and best pal Freddie Bentley unite after explosive row with co-stars as they film new scenes in Essex
's Ella Rae Wise and Freddie Bentley united during filming on Wednesday, following an explosive row with their co-stars. The best pals joined their fellow co-stars Danni Imbert, Livvy, Becks and Junaid Ahmed at Aura Restaurant in Loughton for evening drinks. A number of TOWIE stars came to blows as they were dragged apart from each other in an explosive showdown during Sunday's episode of the ITV2 programme. The popular reality show returned to our screens this weekend for its 36th series, which involved the cast jetting off to Portugal. Meanwhile, Amber Turner, Courtney Green, Chloe Meadows, Elma Pazar and Harry Derbidge filmed scenes at Restaurant Sherekhan in Enfield. At the start of the series, a Whatsapp message was brought up which was about how Freddie, 27, wasn't impressed with how any of his co-stars showed his support towards his best pal Ella, 25, while she was in the Big Brother house. Ella admitted that she expected some support from Jordan Brook, 28, his girlfriend Sophie Kasaei, 35, and the rest of the cast - however they failed to post anything on social media. Tensions started to rise as Ella confronted Jordan about it, while Freddie, Junaid, 30, and Joe Blackman, 27, listened in on the sun lounges next to them. Dan Edgar, 35 - who is Ella Rae's ex boyfriend - is best mates with Jordan and told her: 'I would be wrong and I would be two-faced Fred, like you've called me in the past, if Dan is sitting with me going through a lot and I start posting about you.' Ella replied: 'Sophie wouldn't stand it if you went on a bender.' Sophie, who was sitting on a sun lounger, said: 'I actually wouldn't mind. I'd be with him, that's why.' Jordan told Ella: 'Yeah she wouldn't care.' 'Desperate,' Ella sneakily added. Meanwhile Amy Childs, 35, and Lauren Goodger, 38, were watching on from a distance and Amy confessed: 'Oh my God I can't even look!' At the start of the instalment, a Whatsapp message was brought up which was about how Freddie, 27, wasn't impressed with how any of his co-stars showed his support towards his best pal Ella, 25, (pictured) while she was in the Big Brother house Becks (L) and Livvy (R) are the latest newcomers on the ITV show, after joining the show last year The popular reality show returned to our screens this weekend for its 36th series, which involved the cast jetting off to Portugal (Junaid pictured) Meanwhile, Amber Turner (L), Courtney Green, Chloe Meadows, Elma Pazar (R) and Harry Derbidge filmed scenes at Restaurant Sherekhan in Enfield 'It's been a long day. I know, I feel awkward, Lauren told her. Ella got up and removed herself from the conversation, to which Jordan told her: 'Don't call my bird desperate.' Sophie, 35, fumed: 'Who is calling me desperate?!' Jordan pointed at Ella and said: 'Her.' As Ella walked off she said: 'You're all meant to be in your 30s, grow the f*** up!' Freddie then chimed in and said: 'It's getting ridiculous.' Sophie walked over to Freddie and Dani and asked: 'What the f*** have we done?' Dani pointed out the couple and said: 'They're not the problem!' 'He is!' Freddie replied. 'He's getting involved in my conversation.' Jordan walked over and told him: 'I am not getting involved.' Becoming irate he added: 'I'm getting involved. I am trying to make peace here. You've got the hump with me. I'm making peace. I'm sitting here trying to make a conversation, I'm being a gentleman, trying to have a conversation.' Freddie explained: 'I don't understand why you haven't supported, it's literally all pathetic.' 'You're pathetic!' Jordan fumed back. Sophie chimed in: 'The messages?' Freddie replied: 'And you deserved it! You all deserved it. Deserved to be told about yourselves because at the end of the day if you don't care go away then.' The camera went back to Lauren and Amy, and Lauren said: 'I've never known so much drama in Essex in all my life.' Amy giggled: 'We're in Portugal hun.' Freddie fumed at Sophie: 'Don't even stand there and speak to me.' It then got very heated between the pair, with a lot of swearing, followed by Jordan pushing Freddie. 'Who are you pushing mate?!' Freddie shouted. Dani and Junaid even had to step in to break things up. Junaid told Jordan: 'Don't start on him,' before the pair skulked off in opposite directions. TOWIE airs on ITV2 and is available to stream on ITVX.
The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man Utd content creator Mark Goldbridge bizarrely lands Bundesliga TV rights… but will share deal with four others
MARK GOLDBRIDGE has bizarrely landed the rights to show the Bundesliga in the UK. The Manchester United content creator is the first to have been granted the broadcasting rights for a major European football league. 3 3 Goldbridge, 46, whose real name is Brent Di Cesare, will broadcast the games on his channel That's Football. He boasts over 1million followers on X and 1.38m subscribers on his YouTube channel. The agreement will be in place for the Bundesliga 's first round of fixtures this weekend. The German top-flight will kickstart on Friday night when Bayern Munich take on RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena. Goldbridge will not be the only one to be able to show the reigning champions begin their title defence. The BBC will be able to show it along with every other Friday night games for the next two seasons. The broadcaster will have the match on its website and iPlayer. YouTube channel, The Overlap, has also got a share of the rights and will feature 20 live Friday games across the 2025/26 campaign. All of the games will be free-to-air in a boost to fans interested in the competition. The Bundesliga YouTube channel itself will also be broadcasting Friday night games from the top two leagues of German football. Cologne star Anthony Ujah celebrates goal by grabbing horns of goat mascot This follows the news that The Rest is Football podcast secured the rights for a highlights package of Spain's LaLiga for the next three years. Bundesliga football will also be accessible on long-term partner Sky Sports. Sky Sports will retain the rights to a Saturday night match after their exclusive rights deal expired. This means this season's matches between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund could be shown in the UK. 3 Amazon meanwhile, have secured the exclusive rights to the Sunday fixtures in the Bundesliga. They will be made available to fans on a pay-per-view basis and add to the streaming platform's portfolio which includes Ligue 1 and Champions League football.
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Loose Women pulled from screens in ANOTHER blow to cut-ravaged ITV show - as host makes urgent plea to fans
Loose Women might be a daytime TV fan favourite, but it is the latest show to be pulled from screens amid widespread cuts at ITV. The popular talk show will not air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week and will instead be replaced by a repeat of James Martin 's Great British Adventure from 2019 at 12:30pm on Wednesday. The show sees the popular chef travel to Northern Ireland, where he teams up with local chef Paul Rankin to cook up a storm. This will be followed by a news bulletin before the York races are aired from 1.30pm until 4.30pm, with a similar schedule also in place for Thursday and Friday. Viewers were warned of the change on Tuesday by comedian Lee Peat, the show's warmup act for the live audience, who typically does not feature on screen. Lee said: 'Lines close on Friday and I will saw, this is actually the last Loose Women of the week, so get your entry in if you want to do that!' Host Christine Lampard went on to assure viewers that Loose Women would be returning to its usual schedule on Monday, August 25. While it has been reported that it is not unusual for Loose Women to end early during racing season, the scheduled races this week are notably taking place after the programme has usually finished. This week's cut comes after it was announced that the show would no longer be running for 52 weeks of the year and instead be on screen for just 30 in a bid to cut costs. Changing viewing habits, including an increased reliance on streaming services, have forced ITV to make some difficult decisions in a bid to remain profitable and keep some of the UK's most beloved shows on air. Other shows that have been affected by cuts at the broadcaster include Good Morning Britain and Lorraine. Good Morning Britain will now run for an extra half an hour to reduce Lorraine's slot from one hour to 30 minutes. Like Loose Women, Lorraine will now air for just 30 weeks a year, and when it is not on, it will be replaced by an even longer edition of Good Morning Britain, which will run from 6am to 10am. Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV 's Media and Entertainment Division, stressed that 'daytime is a really important part of what we do.' The popular talkshow will not air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week and instead be replaced by a repeat of James Martin 's Great British Adventure from 2019 at 12:30pm on Wednesday The Managing Director continued: 'These scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well as generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres. 'These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.' News of the cut comes after Denise Welch was forced to apologise on air for Janet Street Porter's remark that the late actor Terrence Stamp was a 'bore' after his death on Sunday. She said: 'Me and Terry Stamp had lunch. I remember I was so excited, I was so looking forward to it. What can I tell you ladies - he was the most boring bloke.
