Walton’s Henry V and Belshazzar’s Feast

The Norwich Philharmonic celebrate their return both to The Halls and to the Festival with an exciting double bill of music by Sir William Walton, featuring the choir and orchestra as well as two conductors, a star singer and a star actor.  The Halls have been the home for the Norwich Philharmonic Society since its foundation in 1841 and the Phil makes its first appearance at the Festival since its spectacular performance of Mahler’s 8^th Symphony in 2016.

Henry V – A Shakespeare Scenario is a compilation by Christopher Palmer of music Walton wrote for the 1944 Laurence Olivier film of Henry V, together with major speeches from Shakespeare’s play.  With much more of Walton’s music than appears in the well-known orchestral suite, it features a major role for an orator which will be played by one of Britain’s leading Shakespearian actors – details to follow.

One of his most popular works, Walton’s cantata, Belshazzar’s Feast, is one of the great British choral works of the 20^th century with huge choruses and thrilling writing for the orchestra.  Writing in The Gramophone, Andrew Mellor described it as “wicked, raucous, barbaric and outlandishly exuberant”.  With a large orchestra, massive percussion section, and the 120 plus voices of the Philharmonic Chorus, this will be a very big sound – one which scandalised the first audience in 1931. Joining the orchestra and chorus will be baritone soloist and international opera star, Roderick Williams OBE.

Matthew Andrews and Ashley Grote conductors

Roderick Williams baritone