News Archive

More recent news is available on the Howard Blake website news page.

CHRISTMAS TV 2011

• THE BEAR (an animated film) (Opus 0496)
• THE SNOWMAN (animated children's film) (Opus 0310)
• WALKING IN THE AIR FOR UNISON CHILDREN'S CHOIR, SOLO TENOR OBBLIGATO AND ORCHESTRA (Opus 0626)

Boxing Day 8.00am Ch.4 TV: A showing of the original animated film of The Bear

SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW 2011: ICC BIRMINGHAM/LOWRY SALFORD/TAMPERE OPERA FINLAND

• THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (BALLET IN TWO ACTS, 5-INSTRUMENT VERSION) (Opus 0522)

Snowmen will be a regular sight in London's West End for the next decade.  Not the result of climate change, but thanks to a new 10-year deal to stage the critically-acclaimed live version of the much-loved children’s classic, THE SNOWMAN, at the Peacock Theatre. The Snowman has been staged every Christmas at the Peacock Theatre in London’s West End for the last twelve years, having started life at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1993. This new deal means the show will continue to delight audiences at the Peacock Theatre for many Christmases to come.  THE SNOWMAN first appeared as a beautifully illustrated picture book by Raymond Briggs in 1978. It subsequently inspired the classic Oscar Nominated, BAFTA Award winning animated film produced by John Coates and directed by Dianne Jackson, first transmitted by Channel 4 on Christmas Eve, 1982. The film’s signature song Walking In The Air, by Howard Blake, reached number 3 in the UK charts when sung by choirboy Aled Jones in 1985, and the song was voted number 2 in a poll conducted by Classic FM to find out children’s favourite pieces of classical music, beating Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

 In 2011 THE SNOWMAN will tour to: 

The Lowry, Salford (22 – 26 Nov),

Tampere Opera House, Finland (8 – 11 Dec)

International Conference Centre (ICC)Birmingham (16 – 31 Dec).

THE ACADEMY OF SAINT MARTIN IN THE FIELDS

• CLARINET CONCERTO (Opus 0329)
• CONCERTO FOR FLUTE AND STRING ORCHESTRA (Opus 0493A)
• SERENADE FOR WIND OCTET (Opus 0419)

Discussions have taken place to schedule the recording of some of Howard's works for woodwind. These would include a new recording of the Clarinet Concerto by Andrew Marriner, with revisions so far unincorporated, and premiere recordings of the Oboe Concerto and the Serenade for Wind Octet. Sir Neville has expressed his enthusiasm to conduct Howard's music with the world-renowned orchestra which he founded - The Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields.

SNOWMAN AND BEAR IN HONG KONG

• THE BEAR (an animated film) (Opus 0496)
• THE SNOWMAN CONCERT VERSION for narrator (or film), boy soprano and orchestra (Opus 0323)

The City of Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra will be giving 3 all-Howard Blake concerts before Christmas conducted by Colin Touchin with narrators Jacqueline Gourley and Henry Coombs. Programme will be The Snowman and The Bear, both with projected film 2.30 and 5.00 on 10.12.11 at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall 2.30 on 11.12.11 at Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium

FOUR SONGS OF THE NATIVITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

• FOUR SONGS OF THE NATIVITY(for SATB choir and 8 brass) (Opus 0415)

Rockingham Choral Society Christmas concert feature the American premiere of Four Songs of the Nativity by Howard Blake, which combines ancient texts with 21st century music. New Hampshire, USA

SADLER'S WELLS SEASON 2011

• THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (BALLET IN TWO ACTS, 5-INSTRUMENT VERSION) (Opus 0522)

This year's run of the Snowman Stage Show is scheduled to open at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in London's West End on December 1st and is scheduled to run till January 9th, about 66 performances. This will be its fourteenth successive Christmas season.

SPEECH AFTER LONG SILENCE IN HONG KONG

• SPEECH AFTER LONG SILENCE (Opus 0610)

Giuseppe Andaloro, winner of multiple first prizes, would have performed at the First Hong Kong Competition in 2005, but had pulled out last minute having won First Prize at the Busoni Competition in Bolzano the week before. Under the HK competition’s new rules which forbid participation in other competitions three months before or after, he would have been disqualified and barred instead. I had heard him perform in 2002, when he made a big impression winning 1^st prize in the London International Piano Competition. In Hong Kong, he did not disappoint. First he performed the Blake work from memory, which immediately gave positive vibes. His was a more nuanced performance, perhaps a little slower than Gasanov’s but far more ruminative. Displaying more shades of colour, it opened more possibilities for imagination. This was not a merely memorised Speech, but one imbued with much thought, probing and ultimately revealing a slew of emotions. Even the tintinnabulation dazzled, and with a more volatile finish, had a sense of improvisation. I am beginning to love this work even more. What can I say about Andaloro’s view of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto? For starters, it was a more polished outing for both piano and orchestra than Gasanov’s Tchaik One. And he does not merely play the notes, but personalises them. The opening chords were taken with a broad and expansive view (but never protracted, such as in Lang Lang’s case), and this was the tenor of his interpretation. Melancholia seemed paramount in his reading, rather unusual coming from an Italian (brooding being a Slavic preoccupation by birth right), which came out from slow boil to an ecstatic climax of crashing chords. Andaloro seems completely at ease with himself, and that greatly steadied the ship. The slow movement was simply beautiful with pianist happy to play the accompanying role for the splendid flute and clarinet solos to shine. Here much of the piano’s melodic line is simple, two hands playing the exactly the same notes an octave apart. Andaloro does not gild the lily but lets the music speak for itself. And one could have been lulled to terminal stupor if not for his slow but steadfast build-up and eventual release, the cadenza coming as a spontaneous outburst of raw emotion. Lovely strings concluded this most wondrous of reveries. In the finale, Andaloro showed he knew the true meaning of scherzando, with a playful romp which belied the thoughtfulness that coloured the big melody. Again, he was restrained in displaying heart-on-sleeve emotion, which could have gone overboard in less poised individuals. That coyness was merely a ploy, as the central tumultuous interlude was unleashed with great vehemence, one in which both pianist and orchestra were as one through every split second. All this made for totally enthralling ride, and when the big melody returned, it was to magnificent effect. Andaloro’s playing was close to faultless, which made this performance ever so memorable Rachamaninov was a master of the musical orgasm, which is why no one (except perhaps the Germans and Austrians) can get enough of this music. And Italians certainly know the meaning of amore. My verdict: Magnificent performances of Blake and Rachmaninov from Andaloro. Have we seen the winner of this competition? But wait, there are still four more competitors to be heard!  Chang Tou Liang  

HONG KONG PIANO COMPETITION 2011

• SPEECH AFTER LONG SILENCE (Opus 0610)

The Third Hong Kong International Piano Competition commissioned a test-piece from Howard and he wrote the piano piece 'Speech after long silence'. Candidates accepted to participate in the competition were given the  score well in advance to allow them time to prepare. The chairman of the jury was Vladimir Ashkenazy, deputy chairman Li Ming-qiang and the distinguished pianist members of the jury included Gary Graffman, Thorunn Johannsdottir-Ashkenazy, Peter Frankl, Ka-tak Gabriel Kwok, Garrick Ohlsson, Cristina Ortiz, Pascal Roge and Yee-Jun Eleanor Wong. Howard was invited to Hong Kong to coach the six finalists. The competition was very well-organised and the standard very high but after lengthy deliberations the first prize deservedly went to Giuseppe Andaloro from Sicily.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

• THE PASSION OF MARY (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (Opus 0577)

Howard Blake contributed a special arrangement for voice and organ of the treble solo from his oratorio 'The Passion of Mary' (issued by Naxos in 2010) as a contribution to an all-night vigil held in Westminster Abbey on October 21/22

EDINBURGH QUARTET ON BBC RADIO 3

• A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY (FOR STRING QUARTET) (Opus 0611)
• LEDA AND THE SWAN (Opus 0249)
• SPIELTRIEB (STRING QUARTET IN ONE MOVEMENT) (Opus 0594)
• STRING TRIO (Opus 0199)
• WALKING IN THE AIR for string quartet (Opus 0615)

The Edinburgh Quartet celebrated its 50th anniversary by commissioning a quartet with the title 'Spieltrieb' ("the urge to play"), given its first performance in the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on February 19th 2010 and since recorded on Naxos along with four other new works. On Monday 17th October they will be playing on BBC Radio 3's 'In Tune' programme.

TRIO FOR FLUTE , CELLO AND PIANO

• TRIO FOR FLUTE , CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0617)

MILAN TRIO IN CAMBRIDGE

• TRIO FOR FLUTE , CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0617)

Susan Milan, Christopher Jepson and Andrew Ball featured Howard Blake's Trio for flute , cello and piano alongside works by Mozart, Prokofiev, Debussy and Mendelssohn in West Road Concert Hall, University of Cambridge on 7th October.

DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND PIANO

• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0337A)

CELLO SONATA

• CELLO SONATA (Opus 0619)

INTERNATIONAL CELLO FESTIVAL IN KRONBERG

• CELLO SONATA (Opus 0619)
• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0337A)

A concert is scheduled for the International Cello Festival in Kronberg Academy at 10.30am on Sunday October 2nd 2011 when Benedict Kloeckner and Howard Blake will play  a programme including 'Diversions for cello and piano' and the Cello Sonata.

ALL GOD'S CREATURES - a performance in Cheltenham

• ALL GOD'S CREATURES (Opus 0468)

Stephen Belifante will conduct the choir and orchestra of Cheltenham Cantilena in a performance of the song-cycle of classic animal-poems for children, 'All God's Creatures'. Cheltenham Town Hall 18th September 2011.

TRIO FOR FLUTE CELLO AND PIANO at National Flute Association USA

• PIANO TRIO (Opus 0524)
• TRIO FOR FLUTE , CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0617)
• TRIO FOR FLUTE CLARINET AND PIANO (Opus 0025)
• Trio For Flute, Cello and Harp (Opus 0559)
• TRIO FOR FLUTE, CLARINET AND HARP (Opus 0598)
• Trio For Flute, Viola and Piano (Opus 0524A)

Susan Milan will give the US premiere of the Trio for flute , cello and piano at the National Flute Association, Charlotte, N.Carolina, USA on 18/19 August 2011. Originally composed for flute, clarinet and harp it is available from Highbridge Music in a number of different arrangements, but is the first performance in USA in this instrumentation.

DOUBLE ALBUM ARCHIVE RELEASE 'THE AVENGERS' - TARA KING SEASON 1968/9

• ALL DONE WITH MIRRORS (Opus 0051)
• GAME (Opus 0053)
• MY WILDEST DREAM (Opus 0049)
• NOON DOOMSDAY (Opus 0054)
• SUPER SECRET CYPHER SNATCH (Opus 0052)
• TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER (Opus 0057)
• THE INTERROGATORS (Opus 0056)
• WHO WAS THAT MAN I SAW YOU WITH? (Opus 0058)
• WHOEVER SHOT POOR GEORGE OBLIQUE STROKE XR40 (Opus 0050)
• WISH YOU WERE HERE (Opus 0055)

In early 1968, at the recommendation of the great Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, Howard Blake was invited by music director Laurie Johnson to take on the role of composer and conductor for the sixth series of 'The Avengers' - the Tara King Season. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the entire series (1961-2011) Chichester University presented a celebratory weekend on 25th/26th June 2011 which included the pre-release of the re-mastered double CD album of Howard's scores, recordings of which had not previously been available. It now receives its public release on Silva Screen, August 8th 2011, with Laurie Johnson's classic signature theme beginning and ending the collection.

SPIELTRIEB (STRING QUARTET IN ONE MOVEMENT)

• SPIELTRIEB (STRING QUARTET IN ONE MOVEMENT) (Opus 0594)

The complete new Naxos CD in performance. Spieltrieb, Month in the country, Leda and the Swan, String trio, Walking in the air for string quartet

EDINBURGH QUARTET CONCERT/ NAXOS CD RELEASE JUNE 29TH

• A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY (FOR STRING QUARTET) (Opus 0611)
• LEDA AND THE SWAN (Opus 0249)
• SNOWMAN SUITE (for string quartet) (Opus 0457)
• SPIELTRIEB (STRING QUARTET IN ONE MOVEMENT) (Opus 0594)
• STRING TRIO (Opus 0199)

Edinburgh Quartet will be giving the London premiere  of 'Spieltrieb' at a concert given by private invitation in Kensington, London on June 29th 2011. The programme will contain all the works on the new Naxos CD which is being issued concurrently.

The premiere of Howard BLake's string quartet 'Spieltrieb' in February 2010, commissioned by the Edinburgh Quartet to celebrate their 50th anniversary, led to a complete CD being recorded for Naxos in the Reid Hall June 4-7 which features the new work along with other quartets - Leda and the Swan, Month in the country, a String Trio dating from 1975, receiving its first performance and Walking in the air arranged for string quartet. The composer's connection with Edinburgh and the quartet goes back to 1960 when Howard as a student gave a chamber music recital at the Leith Hall in Edinburgh with violinist Miles Baster who was then asked to form the quartet of which he remained leader until 1995.The present leader is the brilliant young violinist Tristan Gurney.

 

BENEDICT KLOECKNER/HOWARD BLAKE CONCERT

• CELLO SONATA (Opus 0619)
• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0337A)
• JAZZ DANCES (for cello and piano) (Opus 0520)
• PENNILLION (for piano trio) (Opus 0525)

A concert is to take place in the Historische Caféhalle, Schlangenbad (near Mainz, Germany) on the evening of May 8th 2011 in which Benedict Kloeckner (cello) and Howard Blake (piano) will perform a recital of Blake's music for cello and piano. It will feature a performance of the EBU prize-winning work 'Diversions for cello and piano'; 'Cello Sonata' (first performance) and two shorter items: 'Pennillion' - a Welsh theme and variations; and 'Jazz Dances' (nine concert pieces). 

Benedict Kloeckner performed Howard Blake's 'Diversions for cello and piano' accompanied by Jose Gallardo in the semi-final of the New Talent, European Broadcasting Union Competition, which took place in the University of Bratislava on November 26th 2010 From the seven competitors three were chosen, all of an exceptionally-high standard: Aven Yu, piano (Canada), Ulada Berazhnaya, violin (Belarussia)and Benedict Kloeckner, cello (Germany). The final round took place on Monday 29th with the Slovakian Radio Orchestra in the Historic Concert Hall in Bratislava where each competitor played  concerto. Benedict gave a wonderfully impassioned and deeply-felt performance of the Elgar Concerto and was awarded the first prize! Howard Blake and his son Christopher flew over and were delighted to be present for both of these wonderful concerts and able to congratulate Benedict on his outstanding success.

LIBERATION OF JERSEY

• LIBERATION OF JERSEY (Opus 0621)

The Liberation Festival of Jersey have commissioned Blake to create a brass fanfare to open their festival on May 6th, 2011 in Royal Square, St. Helier. Blake has extended the idea into a short work lasting about 4 minutes: 'Lament for freedom - the mounting of hope - victory song - fanfare'.  It will be played by the prize-winning Premier Brass of Jersey who will also accompany a performance of the famous 'Walking in the air' sung by 100 children of the island of Jersey. The composer hopes to fly over for the event.

'THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE' IN NORTH CAROLINA, USA

• THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE (Opus 0451)

Hartsville Civic Chorale (N. Carolina, USA) are giving a performance of 'The Land of Counterpane' on May 7th with The Long Bay Symphony Orchestra, Hartsville Children's Chorale and High School Choirs. The programme will include Vaughan Williams 'Serenade to Music' and Faure's Requiem.

SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW SIGNING

• THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (BALLET IN TWO ACTS, 5-INSTRUMENT VERSION) (Opus 0522)

THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW came to life at the Birmingham Rep in 1997 when composer Howard Blake collaborated with director Bill Alexander and choreographer Robert North to develop ‘The Snowman’ into a two-act dance show.  With the collaboration of Sadler’s Wells it transferred to London’s Peacock Theatre, where it is now recognised as ‘the longest –running Christmas show in English theatre history’. The signing took place on Tuesday 5th April 2011 in the board-room of the Peacock Theatre in London's West End. The signatories were Howard Blake (composer and lyric-writer); Alistair Spalding (CEO Sadler's Wells Dance Theatre); Stuart Rogers (CEO Birmingham Repertory Theatre); John Coates (CEO TVC/Producer of the film of The Snowman); James Rushton CEO Chester/Music Sales (music publishers).The witnesses signed the contract for a remarkable ten further years.

The origin of it all was the much-loved children’s picture-book called ‘The Snowman’, created by Raymond Briggs in 1978. In 1982 it inspired producer John Coates to develop the idea into an animated film directed by Dianne Jackson for Channel 4. The soundtrack consisted of music only and a score was composed by Howard Blake which included the iconic song Walking In The Air. The film won a BAFTA award and was Oscar-nominated. The song reached number 3 in the UK charts when sung by choirboy Aled Jones in 1985, and recently the entire score was voted number 2 in a poll conducted by Classic FM to find out childrens’ favourite pieces of classical music, beating Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Casse-Noisette).

THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW continues to delight theatre audiences both in UK and around the world, appearing at the Peacock Theatre this Christmas Dec-Jan; The Lowry, Salford (22 – 26 Nov), Tampere Opera House, Finland (8 – 11 Dec) and ICC, Birmingham (16 – 31 Dec). Korean tour 2011 tba.

 

LEXDEN CHORAL SOCIETY PERFORM 'PASSION OF MARY'

• THE PASSION OF MARY (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (Opus 0577)

Sarah Blake conducted The Lexden Choral Society and Colchester Symphony Orchestra in 'The Passion of Mary' at St. Bottolph's Church, Colchester on Saturday 26th March.  Tenor was Richard Edgar Wilson who gave the highly-praised performance on the 2010 Naxos CD. Soprano was Beverley Lockyer, treble Daniel Lewis and bass-baritone Alastair Chapman.  Howard introduced the work and at the end of an excellent perfomance by all concerned accepted the role of Patron of the choral society. The other work in the programme was the Requiem of Faure.

PEOPLE'S CONCERT OF THE LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH

• THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE (Opus 0451)

On February 5th 2011 at 3pm Howard Blake's work 'The Land of Counterpane' will feature in the first ever Lord Provost's Concert at The Usher Hall in Edinburgh. Its first performance took place there to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Mary Erskine School back in 1995 and the school's splendid choir will perform it again as they did for that premiere, but this time with The Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Gary Walker.

SONY ENTERTAINMENTS FILM OF THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW

• THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (BALLET IN TWO ACTS, 5-INSTRUMENT VERSION) (Opus 0522)

Sony Entertainment decided to film the stage show of the Snowman towards the end of its run at The Birmingham Rep - right next to Symphony Hall in Centenary Square. The London-based film company Splinter arrived there on January 24th with 3 gigantic mobile studio trucks servicing 13 cameras and their operators and a 48-track audio mix. The award-winning director was Nick Wickham whose credits include a host of spectacular shows for artists that include Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyonce and many others. The show was shot live to a packed theatre to try and capture the warmth and involvement of the audience which is so much an ingredient of the show's success. The cast and band were in terrific shape and there was a great buzz to the event.  The DVD is now completed and Sony released it on November 8th 2010. The DVD has a number of extra features including a narration performed by Joanna Lumley and three short interviews about the film by Howard Blake. In Christmas week 2010 it reached no. 8 in the UK DVD charts.

HONG KONG 'THE BEAR'

• Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone (Opus 0509)
• THE BEAR (an animated film) (Opus 0496)
• THE BEAR (for narrator, girl soprano, tenor, baritone and orchestra) (Opus 0578)
• THE BEAR for narrator (or film), girl soprano, tenor, baritone and orchestra (Opus 0510)
• THE SNOWMAN CONCERT VERSION for narrator (or film), boy soprano and orchestra (Opus 0323)

Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra are giving performances of both Snowman and The Bear again this Christmas where they have proved to be succesful now for five years. The conductor is Jean Thorel.

PASSION OF MARY: A NAXOS RECORDING OF THE YEAR

• THE PASSION OF MARY (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (Opus 0577)

Howard Blake's dramatic oratorio 'The Passion of Mary'  has been chosen by critic Bob Briggs as his favourite recording of 2010 for MusicWeb International

THE BEAR IN TORONTO

• Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone (Opus 0509)
• THE BEAR (an animated film) (Opus 0496)
• THE BEAR (for narrator, girl soprano, tenor, baritone and orchestra) (Opus 0578)
• THE BEAR for narrator (or film), girl soprano, tenor, baritone and orchestra (Opus 0510)

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra are performing 'The Bear' with projected film, solo tenor, baritone and orchestra as part of their Christmas concert 2010.

 

CARDIFF MILLENIUM CENTRE

• THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (BALLET IN TWO ACTS, 5-INSTRUMENT VERSION) (Opus 0522)

Howard has been invited to give a talk about the stage show and its evolution from short animated film to full evening theatre. It precedes the first Welsh run of the show opening November 10 2010

SHANGHAI EXPO 2010

• SPEECH AFTER LONG SILENCE (Opus 0610)

Pianist William Chen has specialised in Howard's piano music, making the memorable first recording of 'Lifecycle' in 2003 in Sydney, premiering 'Haiku' in Cita Nagoya, Japan in 2006 and performing the piano concerto with the Royal Philharmonic at Howard's 70th birthday concert in London. He appeared as 'piano-guru' in the popular Channel 4 series on musical prodigies, a perfect role since he is also Professor of Piano at Shanghai Conservatoire. He commissioned Howard to create a piano work for a celebrity recital on September 4th 2010 as part of the Expo and Howard responded with a work entitled 'Speech after long silence' which is both lyrically-moving and virtuosic in its demands on the soloist. His recital will feature the premiere of this work along with some pieces from 'Lifecycle' - 'Isabelle','Walking in the Air' and 'Oberon'. An added attraction of this concert is the use of the extraordinary Stuart piano of 102 notes. Howard is going over for the event as is Wayne Stuart its inventor.

GOLD BADGE AWARD FROM BASCA

Howard was presented with a Gold Badge award at an event and lunch presented at the Lancaster Room, The Savoy, London on October 20th 2010. For the past 36 years BASCA, The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, in association with PRS for Music has 'presented Gold Badge Awards to exceptional people from right across the entertainment industry as a sign of appreciation for the very special contribution that they have made in support of British composers and songwriters.' The award has been sponsored by PPL, Phonographic Performance Ltd.

Highbridge Mill, Cuckfield,Sussex

The present owners of Highbridge Mill near Cuckfield after which Howard Blake's publishing company is named and where he lived between 1971- 1981 are holding a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the mill.

Lewisham Music Society

Howard Blake will give an illustrated talk about his music

ANTHONY ROBB AND PRIMAVERA ENSEMBLE

• FLUTE QUINTET (for flute and string quartet) (Opus 0493)

Tony Robb is performing Howard's Flute Quintet with the chamber ensemble Primavera in the Baron's Hall, Penshurst Place, near Tunbridge in Kent, amongst a programme of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven on June 20th AT 7.30. A previous performance of the work took place on June 5th at Battle in Sussex.

Oxford Philomusica

A fund-raising celebrity dinner was given in the Floral Hall at Covent Garden for which Howard had provided a hand-written framed manuscript of Walking in the Air which was auctioned at £800

DIVERSIONS IN ESSLINGEN

• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA (Opus 0337)
• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND PIANO (Opus 0337A)

Benedict Kloeckner and Roope Groendahl play the 'Diversions for cello and piano' in the Burgersaal, Altes Rathaus, Esslingen, Germany at 20.00. Opening concert of the Young European Music Festival 2010

THE PASSION OF MARY

• FOUR SONGS OF THE NATIVITY(for SATB choir and 8 brass) (Opus 0415)
• THE PASSION OF MARY (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (Opus 0577)

Naxos released a a major new CD of choral/orchestral works by Howard Blake at Easter 2010. Howard conducts his dramatic oratorio 'The Passion of Mary' for soloists, choir and orchestra and the song-cycle for chorus and brass ensemble 'Four Songs of the Nativity' in premiere recordings made at Abbey Road Studios with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and soloists: Patricia Rozario (soprano), Richrd Edgar-Wilson (tenor), David Wilson-Johnson (bass-baritone) and treble Robert William Blake the composer's 11-year old son. Originally commissioned under the title 'Stabat Mater' by The Lady Dione Digby for her Dorset Summer Music Festival, a premiere of 'The Passion of Mary'  was given in Sherborne Abbey on 18th May 2002 conducted by David Hill with the Winchester Cathedral Choir and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The part of Mary was created for and sung by Patricia Rozario, but other parts were spoken. However, after this first performance, Howard began to develop the idea of making all the parts singing roles and he substantially revised and extended the work, finally completing and renaming it 'The Passion of Mary' in 2006. 'Four Songs of the Nativity' was originally commssioned by The Book Club and first performed by The Bach Choir and London Brass with Sir David Willcocks in St. Paul's Cathedral in 1990.

Matthew Power
Choir & Organ, May 2010
The highly original oratorio and refreshing Nativity songs focus on the life of Christ through the eyes of Mary. The approachable sound-world delivers an immediacy and drama that will draw listeners in. Excellent soloists bring the texts alive

STERLING TRIO AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS

The brilliant young Sterling Trio, comprising the instrumentation of flute, clarinet and piano, will be giving a complete concert of music by Howard Blake in a lunchtime concert at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square at 1pm on Friday March 5th 2010.  In Spring 2009 Howard heard the group give an excellent  performance of his early piano trio for this combination in a Concordia concert at St James's Piccadilly and after the concert the players asked if there were any other suitable works. Howard suggested several other possibilities: a suite from the filmscore of ' The Duellists', a transcription of 'Archangel's Lullaby' for alto flute, bass clarinet and piano, 'Invocation' originally for soprano, flute and piano. The concert programme is the direct result of this interesting collaboration.

CONCERT AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY

• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA (Opus 0337)
• Diversions For Cello And Piano(original version) (Opus 0167)
• Diversions For Marimba And Orchestra (Opus 0439)

A concert on 27th February 2010 given by the Kelvin Ensemble at Glasgow University will contain two works by Howard Blake. The main concert starting at 7.30 wil feature the 'Diversions for marimba and orchestra' played by the brilliant Heather Corbett, principal percussionist of the BBC Scottish Orchestra alongside Prokofiev's 5th Symphony and a work of John Adams. However as 'pre-concert' event the composer will introduce a third performance of his 'Spieltrieb' quartet performed by the Edinburgh Quartet.

'SPIELTRIEB' STRING QUARTET IN ABERDEEN 25TH FEBRUARY 2010

Following up the world premiere of 'Spieltrieb' in Queen's Hall Edinburgh on Friday 19th, Aberdeen University have offerred a second performance with the Edinburgh Quartet on Thursday 25th February at the Cowdray Hall (Aberdeen Art Gallery). The next day, Friday 26th between 12 and 1, the composer will give a talk about the piece and its creation at the McRobert Building in the University Music department.

THE VIOLIN SONATA IN BRIGHTON

Violinist James Shenton is giving 2 performances of the work, one in St Nicholas Church on 27 January and one in the Chapel Royal on 9th February.

SOUTH WEST GERMAN RADIO TO RECORD 'DIVERSIONS'

• DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA (Opus 0337)
• Diversions For Cello And Piano(original version) (Opus 0167)
• Diversions For Marimba And Orchestra (Opus 0439)

Benedict Klockner the outstanding young cellist from Karlsruhe is to record the 'Diversions' for cello with Jose Gallardo (piano), which will be the first recording of it in its piano/cello configuration. 8th. February 2010. The composer rehearsed it with them in his Kensington on 21st January and believes it will be a very fine performance.

'THE SNOWMAN' STAGE SHOW, BIRMINGHAM REP SEASON 2010

The London production of the stage show of 'The Snowman' moves up to Birmingham Rep for a season from January 15th to 31st with several shows per day. By 8th January advance bookings were reported to be 93% of capacity for the run which could well rise to a complete sell-out. Howard will be attending the opening night to introduce the season and play some of the music. The event is to be honoured by a visit from the City's Lord Mayor and council, who are delighted with the stage show's long-running success both in London and internationally

SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW 12TH CHRISTMAS SEASON

NAXOS RECORDING, ABBEY ROAD 12-13 August 2009

• FOUR SONGS OF THE NATIVITY(for SATB choir and 8 brass) (Opus 0415)
• THE PASSION OF MARY (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (Opus 0577)

Howard Blake will be conducting  the premiere recording of his (second) dramatic oratorio 'The Passion of Mary' in Abbey Road Studios 12-13 August 2009 with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the choir of London Voices and soloists: Patricia Rozario (soprano), Richrd Edgar-Wilson (tenor), David Wilson-Johnson (bass-baritone) and treble Robert William Blake the composer's 10-year old son. Michael Ponder will be producing the recording for Naxos. The recording follows a succesful live first London performance of the work last October 28th in The Cadogan Hall. The release date has yet to be decided but a date leading up to next Easter might seem favourable and appropriate. Originally commissioned under the title 'Stabat Mater' by The Lady Dione Digby for her Dorset Summer Music Festival, a premiere of the work was given in Sherborne Abbey on 18th May 2002 conducted by David Hill with the Winchester Cathedral Choir and Bournemouh Symphony Orchestra. The part of Mary was created for and sung by Patricia Rozario, but other parts were spoken. However, after this first performance, Howard began to develop the idea of making all the parts singing roles and he substantially revised and extended the work, finally completing and renaming it 'The Passion of Mary' in 2006.

A recording will also be made of the 'Four Songs of the Nativity' for chorus and 8 brass. This work was originally commssioned by The Book Club and first performed by The Bach Choir and London Brass with Sir David Willcocks in St. Paul's Cathedral on December 13th 1990. The work has subsequently received many performances but this will be its first recording.

 

THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE, CHELTENHAM September 27th 2009

• THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE (Opus 0451)

Stephen Belinfante will conduct a performance of Howard's touching work for children's choir and orchestra in Cheltenham Town Hall 27.09.2009

BARNES MUSIC SOCIETY RECITAL 28th October 2009

• FOUR EASY PIECES (Opus 0608)
• LIFECYCLE (Opus 0489)
• PENNILLION (for Violin and Piano) (Opus 0571)
• VARIATIONS ON A THEME OF BARTOK (Opus 0003)
• VIOLIN SONATA (Opus 0586)
• Walking in the air (extract Lifecycle) (Opus 0609)

Howard Blake will play and introduce a programme of his music with Madeleine Mitchell (violin) for the Barnes Music Society on Wednesday 28th October 2009. He will be joined by the violinist Madeleine Mitchell to give the first London performance of his Violin Sonata and  'Pennillion' both of which they recently recorded for Naxos. The Methodist Hall, Station Road, Barnes, London, 8.00pm. Tickets available at the door.

'EVA' BALLET IN ANTALYA, TURKEY 7th November 2009

• A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY (Opus 0374)
• BENEDICTUS (Opus 0282)
• EVA (A BALLET IN THREE ACTS FOR ORCHESTRA, SOLO VIOLIN AND SATB CHORUS) (Opus 0481)
• PIANO QUARTET (Opus 0179)
• TOCCATA-A CELEBRATION OF THE ORCHESTRA (Opus 0386)
• VIOLIN CONCERTO (THE LEEDS) (Opus 0441)

BLAKE IN ALFRISTON

• DIVERSIONS FOR MARIMBA AND PIANO (Opus 0439A)
• SPIELTRIEB (STRING QUARTET IN ONE MOVEMENT) (Opus 0594)
• VIOLIN SONATA (Opus 0586)

A concert of Howard Blake's chamber music is to be given by Alfriston Summer Music on 29th July 2009. The Edinburgh String Quartet will be giving two works by Haydn to celebrate his 200th anniversary - a trio and a quartet. Then, as part of Howard Blake's own continuing 70th birthday celebrations they will give a preview performance of his new string quartet (opus 594). There will be a performance of his Violin Sonata (opus 586) - recently released on Naxos - which he will perform with the quartet's leader Tristan Gurney, and 'Diversions' (opus 439A) in the unusual combination of marimba and piano, played by Sam Walton (marimba) and Jeremy Young (piano). Howard grew up in Sussex and is delighted by the invitation.

ABSQUE LABORE NIHIL

'Absque labore nihil' is the motto of the Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School which Howard Blake attended from 1950-57. He is honoured to have been asked to make an address at the 150th reunion of the school at a lunch in the college hall on July 4th 2009.

'GRANPA' IN CHINA

• GRANPA (Opus 0393)

The Macao Orchestra of the Macao SAR government will be conducted by Francis Khan in a performance of Howard's 'Granpa'. a concert opera for narrator/singer (Granpa), Emily (a small girl), with children's chorus and orchestra.

'THE BELLS' WITH MASSED YOUTH CHOIRS

• THE BELLS (Opus 0424)

Howard will be present to hear Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and Choirs from all over the county perform his setting of Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem of mystery and the imagination - 'The Bells'. Conducted by Tom Seligman it will also feature songs from Leonard  Bernstein's 'West Side Story', Stravinsky's 'Petrouchka' and a new work by young Hampshire composer Michael Cutting. Venue, The Anvil, Basingstoke, Saturday 9th May 2009 at 7.00pm.

BENEDICTUS IN COLCHESTER

• BENEDICTUS (Opus 0282)

Three school choirs will join with the Lexden Choral Society and Lexden Youth Choir for a performance of Howard's large-scale dramatic oratorio conducted by Sarah Blake with tenor soloist Richard Edgar-Wilson. It will take place at the Charter Hall at 7.30.

CONCERT AT THE SHELDONIAN, OXFORD 18th December 2009

• CONCERTO FOR FLUTE AND STRING ORCHESTRA (Opus 0493A)
• FOUR SONGS OF THE NATIVITY (for SATB choir and 5 brass) (Opus 0531)
• SUITE FROM THE BALLET 'THE SNOWMAN' (FOR SATB CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA) (Opus 0575)
• SUITE:A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY (Opus 0446)

A concert of Howard's music on 18th December 2009 in which he will conduct the Oxford Philomusica: Suite for strings- 'A Month in the Country', Concerto for Flute, with soloist Anthony Robb, 'Four Songs of the Nativity' with chorus directed by Andrew Stuart, Suite from the Ballet 'The Snowman'.

OPERA IN HOUSTON

Howard Blake's one-act opera The Station, for which he wrote both libretto and music, is to be performed  by Sugar Land Opera/Imperial Performing Arts ina double bill with Mozart's 'The Impresario' on 12th and 15th March 2009 at Briscoe Manor. Houston, Texas. Cast will include Catherine May and  Anne Heath-Welch (formerly with The English National Opera)

SLEEPWALKING, WIGMORE HALL 11th January 2010, 7.30pm

• SLEEPWALKING (for soprano and 8 cellos) (Opus 0505)
• Sleepwalking (For Soprano and Piano Quartet) (Opus 0537)
• SLEEPWALKING (for soprano vocalise, solo cello and piano) (Opus 0599)

Concordia Foundation, which does such splendid work for young musicians, are being sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Musicians for a Wigmore Hall concert on January 11th 2010 celebrating three of their prizewinning artists; Julia Sporsen, soprano, Ashok Klouda cellist and Joseph Middleton,piano. In July 2009 Howard was asked by Gillian Humphries the founder and artistic director of Concordia if he possibly had a suitable work for this splendid occasion. Within days Howard created a new version of 'Sleepwalking' for soprano vocalise, cello and piano which will receive its first performance at this concert.

THE SNOWMAN FLIES TO KOREA

The hugely popular Birmingham Repertory Theatre production of THE SNOWMAN is set to fly to Korea.Having toured the show to Edinburgh and Salford in recent years, The REP’s visit to the Seoul Opera House from March 28 – April 12 will be the international debut for this remarkably successful show.THE SNOWMAN has been staged every Christmas at the Peacock Theatre in the West End for the last eleven years, having started life at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1993. Howard Blake, who wrote the music for show including the famous ‘Walking In The Air’, says:

 “After eleven consecutive Christmas seasons at London's Peacock Theatre, the stage show of THE SNOWMAN has become a much-loved institution, but up to now has never travelled very far from home. This opportunity to take the entire cast and crew out to the Seoul Opera House is a fabulous invitation. If the Korean people were to take the show to their hearts in the way audiences in the UK have done it would really be most exciting.”

 The tour to Korea will be the largest undertaking of The REP’s touring programme in recent years and it will showcase the work of the theatre to an audience of over 30,000 in one of the largest and most prestigious venues in Asia. It is hoped that the Korean performances will form the beginning of the company’s international touring plans for THE SNOWMAN.

Stuart Rogers, Executive Director at The REP says: “This is a fantastic opportunity to profile both Birmingham Repertory Theatre and THE SNOWMAN at an international level. Having secured the world exclusive rights to the stage show and proved that it can tour successfully in the UK, we are now looking to expand into the many other areas of the world where both the story of THE SNOWMAN and Howard’s brilliant song “Walking In The Air” are known and loved.”

PIANO CONCERTO IN RUSSIA

• LIFECYCLE (Opus 0489)
• PIANO CONCERTO (Opus 0412)
• VARIATIONS ON A THEME OF BARTOK (Opus 0003)

The Russian pianist, Nadia Giliova, has been much associated with Howard's piano music recently, giving a terrific performance of his 'Variations on a theme of Bartok' at the Wigmore Hall on July 11th together with three pieces from 'Lifecycle'. On 27th and 28th December she is to give the first performance in Russia of Howard Blake's  Piano Concerto with the Murmansk Philharmonic Orchestra.

THE BEAR & THE SNOWMAN WINTER TOUR

Following their success in Bath last Christmas at the Theatre Royal, The Bath Philharmonia are performing Howard Blake's 'The Bear' and 'The Snowman' as a 2008 winter tour. The narrator will be Russell Boulter and the conductor will again be Jason Thornton: Friday 28th Nov, Octagon Theatre, Yeovil; Sunday 30th Nov. Hall for Cornwall, Truro; Sunday 21st Dec. Colston Hall, Bristol. A popular feature of the event last year was the presence of the composer who at the end of the concert talked about his works and answered questions, which he will be doing this year at the Bristol concert.

BALLET IN SEATTLE

The second season of Howard Blake's full-length 2-act Ballet of The Snowman with live orchestra is given by Ballet Bellevue on 13-14 December 2008 at The Northshore performing arts centre, Seattle. It is choreographed by Jennifer Porter with the Orchestra of Ballet Bellevue conducted by David Upham.

SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW

HOWARD BLAKE (music and lyrics); ROBERT NORTH(choreography); BILL ALEXANDER (direction) Scenario by Howard Blake, Robert North & Bill Alexander based on the picture-book by Raymond Briggs and the animated film by Diane Jackson. A Birmingham Rep/Sadler's Wells production. 11am performances: 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Dec 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 Jan 2.30pm performances: 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Dec 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 11 Jan 7pm performances: 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 20, 27 Dec 2, 3, 9, 10 Jan, Celebrating its eleventh Christmas season performing at the Peacock Theatre (Sadler's Wells 'Theatre in the West End')  Featuring the song 'Walking in the Air' and the full 90-minute hit score by Howard Blake played by a live orchestra. 'An essential part of London's Christmas calendar. A captivating mix of dance, stagecraft and music.' TIME OUT

CLASSIC FM - THE FULL WORKS, broadcast November 13, 2008 9pm-12.00am

Classic FM Radio are broadcasting a 3-hour programme of Howard's works on the evening of  November 13th. The programme will feature music which may include works selected from his 2 new CDs- 'Music for strings and piano' issued by Naxos on 27th October 2008, featuring Madeleine Mitchell and Howard as pianist, and the Piano Concerto album re-issued by Sony Classics on 6th October 2008. The other 2 works on the album are  'Diversions for cello and orchestra' with Robert Cohen as soloist and 'Toccata - a celebration of  the orchestra', on both of which Howard conducts The Philharmonia.

GALA CONCERT IN GERMANY

TOBIAS VAN DE LOCHT conductor

ANDREA KAUTZMANN solo tenor sax 

NADIA GILIOVA solo piano

SANTIAGO ZIESMER narrator

DAMEN DES EXTRACHORS DER DEUTSCHEN OPER AM RHEIN 

SINFONIA OF DUSSELDORF 

CONCERT AT THE CADOGAN HALL, LONDON

• PIANO CONCERTO (Opus 0412)
• THE PASSION OF MARY (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (Opus 0577)
• THE SNOWMAN CONCERT VERSION for narrator (or film), boy soprano and orchestra (Opus 0323)

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are presenting a concert of Howard Blake's music on Tuesday October 28th 2008 at 7.30pm at The Cadogan Hall, London to celebrate his 70th birthday. It will include the concert version of ‘The Snowman’ narrated by Bernard Cribbins with ‘Walking in the Air’ sung by Robert William Blake.

The Piano Concerto will be played by the brilliant Shanghai-based pianist William Chen and the London premiere of the dramatic oratorio ‘The Passion of Mary’ will feature soprano Patricia Rozario, tenor Martyn Hill, Swedish bass Lars Avidson and the choir of London Voices, directed by Terry Edwards. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by the composer.

Box office 020 7730 4500 www.cadoganhall.com  

THE SNOWMAN (Concert version for solo treble, narrator and orchestra, opus 323, 1983)
Music, lyrics and narration by Howard Blake based on the book by Raymond Briggs.
Narrator Bernard Cribbins Solo treble Robert William Blake.
Composer’s note: The theme of ‘Walking in the air’ entered my mind as long ago as 1970 whilst walking on a Cornish beach.  I thought it might be the opening of a symphony but abandoned it. Eleven years later I happened to walk into a film production company and see a nine-minute  pencil sketch based on Raymond Briggs’  picture-book ‘The Snowman’. I felt instantly that this was where the theme belonged and said: ‘I would love to set this whole story to music. It wouldn’t need any words and I have a song that would work with it like a dream.’ Jeremy Isaacs agreed and the 26-minute animated film was made by Channel 4. While it was being drawn I worked on the lyrics and orchestration, conducting the complete orchestral score in July 1982 with The Sinfonia of London and the superb treble voice of Peter Auty, a treble in  St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir. The film was first shown at Christmas 1982, was nominated for an Oscar and won many prizes. The  CBS Masterworks album was released the following year and its first concert performance took place at The Barbican that  December, since when concert performances of it have sprung up all over the world. In 1985 Aled Jones’s single of it went to number 3 in the hit parade and since 1997 a two-act ballet (The Snowman Stage Show) has run every year at Sadler’s Wells’ Peacock Theatre, becoming the longest-running Christmas show in London. My  son Robert William presently sings in the famous  Stockholm Boys Choir and joins us  for this evening’s performance.

CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA (opus 412, 1991)

Concert work in three movements: 1. Tranquillo-Allegro 2. Andante Espressivo 3. Vivace
Soloist: William Chen
The piano concerto was originally commissioned by The Philharmonia to celebrate the 30^th birthday of their patron Diana, then HRH, The Princess of Wales. The soloist in the premiere was the composer in a gala concert at the Royal Festival Hall in 1991. But the soloist on this  occasion will be William Chen, now piano professor at Shanghai Conservatoire. He studied in the Sydney Conservatorium and The Royal Academy in London, meeting Howard Blake in 2002 at a performance of ‘Lifecycle’, his 24 pieces for solo piano. He asked if he could study the pieces with the composer and in 1993 made a marvellous recording of  them for ABC Classics.

Composer’s note: In 1998 I attended a splendid performance of my dramatic oratorio ‘Benedictus’ for solo tenor solo viola, choir and orchestra given in Sherborne Abbey by the Summer Music Society of Dorset.. The Lady Digby as director of the festival asked if I would consider writing a new work on a similar scale - a ‘companion-piece’ - but with the principal protagonist a soprano rather than a tenor. Through discussion an idea began to emerge of a view of the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Mary the Mother. It was pointed out to me that the time-honoured ‘Stabat Mater’ poem expresses Mary’s grief at the foot of the cross, but I started to consider broadening the concept to encompass far more than that in a series of linked ‘scenes from the life’ as related in scripture. Unfortunately at this point in my life I was forced to postpone the creation of  such a work indefinitely due to unprovoked and vicious  litigation pursued against me by a music publisher. Greatly to their credit, The Summer Music Society of Dorset nevertheless went boldly ahead and commissioned the work, helped by South-West Arts and the generous assistance of members of the society. The work was not completed for 4 years and first performed in Sherborne Abbey in 2002 to coincide with the 40^th anniversary of the festival. Patricia Rozario sang the soprano solo part of Mary, which had been specially written for her, whilst the other roles were spoken. The Choir of Winchester Cathedral and The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra were conducted by David Hill and the work received a wonderful standing ovation.

However, having now heard the work I started to feel that it would be further improved if some of the other roles could be sung. David Hill suggested the work might also be effectively extended by adding a final chorus based on the ‘Salve Regina’. In 2006 after various false starts I completed a substantially- rewritten and and completely-sung  version, re-naming it ‘The Passion of Mary’. The first performance of this was given in St.Gorans Church in Stockholm in October 2007 and the concert on October 28^th at the Cadogan Hall will celebrate the first London performance.

MUSIC FOR PIANO AND STRINGS ON NAXOS

The globally-distributed record company Naxos are releasing a complete newly-recorded album of Howard's 'music for piano and strings' on the 27th October to coincide with his 70th birthday celebrations and concert on the 28th. Howard teams up with the celebrated UK violinist Madeleine Mitchell to give the first performance of his

Violin Sonata, a virtuoso work in 3 movements;

Pennillion for violin & piano, a hauntingly-beautiful theme with variations

Jazz Dances for violin & piano - a fun piece that 'pays mischievous homage to contemporary dance rhythms.' Also on the CD is the first major release of Howard's large-scale

Piano Quartet recorded back in the seventies with his friends Jack Rothstein (violin), Ken Essex (viola) and Peter Willison (cello).

The new recordings by Howard and Madeleine were made in the Potton Hall Studios situated in the depths of the idyllic Suffolk countryside near Westleton. The recording was produced by Michael Ponder who previously produced the ASV recording of Howard's Violin Concerto with violinist Christiane Edinger and conductor Paul Daniel.

NEW EDITION OF THE PIANO CONCERTO ALBUM

THE ALBUM OF HOWARD BLAKE'S MUSIC FEATURING THE PIANO CONCERTO, ORIGINALLY COMMISSSIONED BY THE PHILHARMONIA TO CELEBRATE DIANA THE PRINCESS OF WALES 30TH BIRTHDAY, WAS FIRST RELEASED ON CD BY COLOMBIA/SONY IN 1991

NEW EDITION OF THE ALBUM IS RELEASED ON OCTOBER 6TH 2008 BY SONY CLASSICS (88697 376 972)

CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA - SOLOIST HOWARD BLAKE - CONDUCTOR SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS.

DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA - SOLOIST ROBERT COHEN -CONDUCTOR HOWARD BLAKE.

TOCCATA - A CELEBRATION OF THE ORCHESTRA - CONDUCTOR HOWARD BLAKE.

ALL TRACKS FEATURING THE PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA.

The CD is completely re-designed with new artwork and photography and a handsome 8-page colour booklet, but retains and prints in full the original 'appreciation of Howard's music' by the  distinguished music writer Christopher Palmer.

SYMPHONY FOR SELANGOR

Howard Blake is most honoured to have been commissioned to compose a symphony for H.R.H. The Sultan of Selangor, Malaysia. In 2005 Howard was invited by Royal Command of the Sultan to give the Asian premiere of his monumental piano work  'Lifecycle' in Selangor Palace, Kuala Lumpur. Whilst there he also visited the palace of Shah Alam to hear the Sultan's own gamelan orchestra with whom he was invited to play. On the Friday evening following the recital Howard suggested to H.R.H. The Sultan that they might attend a performance of Beethoven's 9th symphony which was being performed in the Petronas Towers concert hall by The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the royal box was opened up for the occasion, with Howard sitting to the left of HRH the Sultan, who wore his ceremonial robes of state. The performance made a great impression and the seed of an idea was sown. After much discussion and correspondence a commission agreement has recently been reached and Howard has started work. It is agreed that the title will be 'A Symphony for Selangor.'

RECORDING OF THE FLUTE QUINTET FROM BELGIUM

A new recording of the Flute Quartet by Arco Baleno Ensemble with Peter Verhoyen solo flute on a CD called Brittania, (Etcetera-records 1372) released July 2008: music for flute, strings and harpsichord by British composers - Rutter, Bridge, Blake, Jacob, Stephenson

SONGS OF TRUTH AND GLORY

On June 28th 2008 at Dorking Halls Surrey Peter Farrant will be conducting the Reigate and Redhill Choral Society in a programme of English music. Along with works by Vaughan Williams, John Ireland and Karl Jenkins the concert will include Howard's settings of five George Herbert poems entitled 'Songs of Truth and Glory' for choir and orchestra, originally commissioned for the 2005 Three Choirs Festival and played to celebrate Howard's 70th birthday year. Vaughan Williams own settings of Herbert are deliberately juxtaposed in this concert and Howard will be present to talk about this.

CD for Naxos

Howard features as both composer and pianist on a new CD of his music for Naxos with the violinist Madeleine Mitchell. They are recording at the idyllic Potton Hall Studios in Suffolk, the release being intended for late October. It will feature premiere recordings of the 'Violin Sonata', 'Pennillion' and 'Jazz Dances' with the addition of an existing unreleased recording of the Piano Quartet.

GRANPA IN ADELAIDE

Windmill Performing Arts in conjunction with The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conducted by Timothy Sexton are presenting Howard's 'Granpa' June 12-14 2008. Director is Andy Packer and Designer Geoff Cobham. The musical work was originally created by Howard from a book by John Burningham as an animated children's opera for television, with the part of Granpa played by Peter Ustinov. However a lively performance by the City of Hong Kong Chamber orchestra in 2005 denoted it as a 'concert opera' in its own right and it will be most interesting to find out what Windmill make of it.

CONCERT AT THE CADOGAN HALL, LONDON

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have scheduled a major concert of Howard Blake's music as part of their Cadogan Hall Season to celebrate his 70th birthday on October 28th 2008. The programme will be conducted by the composer and include the concert version of 'The Snowman' for treble (Robert William Blake), narrator (Nigel Havers) and orchestra, The Piano Concerto (originally commissioned for the 30th birthday of Princess Diana) played by William Chen, the brilliant Shanghai-based pianist who so memorably recorded Howard Blake's monumental work 'Lifecycle', and the London premiere of  'The Passion of Mary', a major new work for soloists, choir and orchestra, featuring soprano Patricia Rozario, tenor Martyn Hill and Swedish bass Lars Avidson. Booking from 1st May www.cadoganhall.com 020 7730 4500

FESTIVAL MASS IN BRISTOL

Howard will visit  Bristol for a performance of his 'Festival Mass' for a cappella 8-part choir on Saturday 29th March 2008 at 7.30 at St Mary Radcliffe's Church, given by the Bristol Bach Chorus conducted by Peter Leech. It will be preceeded by a question and answer session at 6.40.

An all Howard Blake concert in Suffolk Saturday March 8th 2008

Suffolk composer Helen Burrows has put together a remarkable collection of Howard's music for his 70th year. It takes place in Woodbridge Quay Church this Saturday. The draft programme can be viewed as a pdf document here (approx. 4.5mb filesize).

Easter Anthem in Swedish!

The first performance of an anthem for Easter will be given at St. Gorans Kyrka, Stockholm at 11am on Easter Sunday, March 23rd 2008. It is scored for two trumpets, two trumbones, organ, percussion and SATB choir and was specially commissioned with Swedish text taken from Psalm 118. "Herrens hand har visat sin kraft".

The Land of Counterpane

The Richmond Orchestra present a concert for children which includes Howard's setting of poems by Robert Louis Stevenson from his collection 'A Child's Garden of Verses' with the choir of Queen's Primary School, Kew. The concert also features his 'Nursery Rhyme Overture' . The German School, Petersham, Saturday 3pm February 3rd 2008

The Snowman 2007 programme note

Howard Blake reads his 2007 programme note on You-tube describing the 25 years of The Snowman animated film and the 10 years of The Snowman Stage Show in London's West End. He then plays "Walking in the Air".

View the recording here.

The SNOWMAN IN FINLAND

Howard visited the city of Tampere, 2 hours north of Helsinki November 21-22 to see the opening of a beautiful small-scale version of the stage show of The Snowman presented at the Comedy Theatre. It lasted 62 minutes and received a rousing ovation from a sold-out  theatre whilst Howard's visit actually made it onto national TV!

THE BEAR IN BATH

Jason Thornton conducted splendid concert performances of both The Bear and The Snowman, narrated with great verve by the celebrated actress Stephanie Cole and the Bath Philharmonia Orchestra.  Afterwards Jason interviewed Howard about his musical career and he responded to questions from the audience

BENEDICTUS AT ST ALBAN'S CATHEDRAL

Howard Blake's dramatic oratorio 'Benedictus' was given a 21st birthday performance in St Alban's Cathedral on Saturday November 17th at 7.30pm with Martyn Hill (tenor) the St Albans Bach Choir and The Sinfonia Verdi conducted by Andrew Lucas. The world premiere of the work was given in the cathedral in 1986 by the St Albans Bach Choir when the soloist was Robert Tear and the conductor Sir David Willccks.

SONY-BMG CD RELEASE

James Nesbitt the popular Irish actor has recorded a splendid re-voicing of the narration for the classic CD of 'The Snowman', to be released on SonyBMG on November 26th 2007. Howard Blake's much-loved original orchestral recording is intact but re-mastered  along with Peter Auty's memorable treble solo in 'Walking in the Air.' Howard wrote both music and lyrics for the famous animated film and then went on to write the narration and produce the album for CBS Masterworks which went platinum. Ownership transferred to Sony in the late eighties and is now with Sony-BMG who celebrate its succesful 25th year with this beautifully-produced booklet and album.

The SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW 2007/8

The Snowman Stage show is based on the book by Raymond Briggs, choreographed by Robert North, directed by Bill Alexander with music and lyrics by Howard Blake.Three theatres will be staging The Snowman Stage Show this Christmas

The Peacock Theatre, Sadler's Wells' theatre in London's West End will open its 10th winter season on December 6th 2007 running 2 or 3 times a day nearly every day except Christmas until January 7th 2008.

For details see: http://www.sadlerswells.com/peacock/2007_2008/snowman2007.asp
 

The Edinburgh Festival Theatre will open its own production on 12th December which will run to 30th December

 

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre will not run a show in Christmas 2007 but will run a season in 2008/9

 

The Lowry Theatre Salford will run a season 11-19 January 2008

 Programme note:

It’s 25 years since Howard Blake wrote the musical score and lyrics for the Channel 4 cartoon film ‘The Snowman’ with its song ‘Walking in the Air’, but the song remains as popular as ever, featuring last Christmas in a new duet version that Howard created specially for Aled Jones, whilst the complete Snowman soundtrack recording with both music and story is out on SonyBMG in a deluxe package with an illustrated booklet. Performances of the concert version of the Snowman- sometimes with narration, sometimes with orchestra and projected film- take place in many countries, from Taiwan to Toronto, from Hong-Kong to Budapest. The stage show that first came into being in  1993 grew out of Raymond Briggs’ timeless picture-book, Diane Jackson’s marvellous animated cartoon and Robert North’s beautiful ballet, but the music (nearly 80 minutes of it) in a sense grew directly out of the song, as Musical Opinion critic Robert Matthew-Walker recently observed: ‘Walking in the Air is used as the basis for  a virtually continuous set of symphonic variations; a subtle and fully-wrought score which entrances the ears of all who are brought into the magical world it conjures up’. The show has gone from strength to strength and a new production of the show has been built so that children in Scotland and The Midlands can enjoy it as well as those in London’s Peacock. John Stalker, who was the original producer, now manages The Edinburgh Festival Theatre who will open the show on December 13^th while The Lowry Manchester will run it in January 2008 for the first time. Remarkably, and much to Howard’s delight, the same creative team is still in place after 9 years, while Jeremy Young, the musical director/pianist and Clare Findlater, flautist have been playing on the show for 6 years. When asked why this is, all involved tend to say: ‘because we enjoy doing it so much!’ – and thankfully audiences feel the same!

THE BEAR (Piano/Vocal Score with Narration)

Howard Blake's score for the animated film 'The Bear' was completed in 1998 when the film was first shown on Channel 4. In 1999 Howard wrote a narration and adapted the score for concert performance. However, despite the full score, orchestral parts, voice parts and narration being available from that time, no complete Piano/Vocal score has been available until 18th January 2007. The Christmas season 2006/7 produced a flurry of interest in the work. The film achieved a top UK TV viewing slot of 6.30pm Christmas Eve, and live concert performances were given in several major venues including The Helix Dublin and the City Concert hall, Hong Kong. Spurred on by this Howard set about creating a playable piano score himself and the resulting 50-page book is now available for sale. It includes the sung parts for girl soprano, tenor and bass with all the lyrics which need to be sung in the concert version. (In the film more than half of the lyrics were omitted including Charlotte's, due to an antipathy to lyrics and songs expressed by producer John Coates!); the narration with its own cue numbers that can be used if the narrator needs to be cued; and the start procedure if a DVD is projected.

However, apart from all these past complications Howard feels it actually works really well transcribed for keyboard and is a lot of fun to play.

CHAMBER MUSIC

New recordings of Howard Blake's chamber music by tenor Martyn Hill and The English Serenata were released in November 2006 on Meridian CDE 84553

Works included "Shakespeare Songs", the "Flute Quintet", "Trio for flute cello and harp" and "Pennillion".

ALED JONES DUET VERSION OF WALKING IN THE AIR

Howard composed a new counter-melody to his song 'Walking in the Air' especially for the tenor Aled Jones, who sings a duet with himself as a 12-year old  by overdubbing the 1985 EMI single which made him famous. They collaborated on the recording at the Marcangelo Studios in West London in August 2006 and the track has been released November 2006 on Universal under the album title 'The Best of Aled Jones'. UCJ 476 572-1 The album includes a duet version of Panis Angelicus with Bryn Terfel and Slent Night with Hayley Westenra

Children's Cello

BIS records have released a CD performed by Steven Isserlis and Stephen Hough of 'pieces for cello students of all ages' and one of the pieces is Howard Blake's 'Archangel's Lullaby'- reviewed in Gramaphone magazine July 2006.

Re-release of Granpa CD

Hayley Westenra

The star New Zealand girl singer Hayley Westenra has brought out an album of "Walking in the Air" and is performing it in her concert tour with the Boston Pops Orchestra during the Christmas season.

Benedictus & Lifecycle at Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh

A performance of Howard's major oratorio "Benedictus" with tenor Neil Mackie is scheduled for 22nd April 2006 at Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh, along with a performance of his 24 piano pieces "Lifecycle".

Winterdream Premiere

Premiere of "Winterdream", Howard's new commissioned setting of Keats' classic poem "La belle Dame sans merci" will be given in Cadogan Hall, Chelsea on February 4th 2006 with combined children's choirs conducted by the composer.

HB in Kuala Lumpur

Howard visited Kuala Lumpur in June to give a piano recital of his "Lifecycle" in the palace of HRH The Sultan of Selangor and discussions are now taking place in regard to a major commission. See the article in The Star Online for a review.

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra are giving 3 performances of "The Snowman" at The Petronas Towers 17th /18th December.

Hong Kong Concert

On June 19 2005 Howard visited Hong Kong for a delightful concert of two of his works "The Bear" and "Granpa", given by the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. Both were translated into Cantonese, with celebrated Hong Kong actor Jim Junior as Granpa, Jim Chin narrating "The Bear" and 50-strong children's chorus and this Christmas are scheduled to perform "The Snowman".