Joan will be playing the Malcolm Arnold Guitar Concerto and Britten’s Simple Symphony with the Silk Street Sinfonietta conducted by Antoine Veillerette.

The British composer wrote this concerto in 1959 for Julian Bream, who described it as one of Malcolm’s very best pieces, a “modest masterpiece”.

The Concerto was first performed at the Aldeburgh Festival as a result of a special invitation from Britten himself. It’s work of sustained melodic richness and contains one of Arnold’s most gorgeous tunes: the second subject of the first movement – an unforgettable melody that Bream referenced to as ‘my meringue’. There is a hint of neo-classicism that flavours the whole work and it remains one of Arnolds most prepossessing scores. (Paul Harris, Chair of the Malcolm Arnold Society)

This FREE concert will take place in Silk Street Music Hall (Guildhall School of Music & Drama, EC2Y 8DT) at 8pm on Friday 16 February 2024.  No tickets required.