Granpa

First Performance: Bernard Cribbins (Granpa), London Voices, Wroughton Middle School Choir, Trinity Boys Choir and The Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by the composer, The Royal Festival Hall, London, 9 July 1989.

‘Granpa’ was originally created as an animated children’s opera filmed for Channel 4 TV London. The animation company was TVC who had previously made the award-winning animated film ‘The Snowman’ for which Howard Blake had also created both words and music.

‘Granpa’ follows the fantastic adventures of young Emily and her rumbunctious elderly grandfather. Each time she visits him their day-to-day activities somehow transform into fantastic adventures. Caterpillars and spiders become giant, the house becomes Noah’s Ark, a rollercoaster turns into a Spitfire – there are fiery dragons on the bed covers and tendrilled jungles in the greenhouse. But Granpa is an old man and his health is failing. In a heartbreaking finale Emily arrives to play at Granpa’s house one day, but finds him gone forever. A beautiful and sensitive study of that special relationship between old and young.

 (for further information on the film see opus 360)