The first ever national tour of the new Arts Council England music initiative Orchestras Live is to visit south Devon four times over winter 2004 and spring 2005, bringing with it high profile orchestras such as the City of London Sinfonia and the Britten Sinfonia.
Orchestras Live features 13 of the country’s finest chamber orchestras and takes place at Dartington Hall near Totnes, as well as in venues in Bradford on Avon, Canterbury, Dartford, Hereford, Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Whitby. The scheme has been developed by the Eastern Orchestral Board, is funded by Arts Council England and supported by radio station Classic FM.
Four orchestral performances are taking place at Dartington Hall as part of the iniative, starting on Wednesday 8 December with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and finishing in May with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. The scheme provides an opportunity for the arts centre at Dartington Hall - already well known for its extensive music programme to build on existing year-round music activities and offer local audiences large scale orchestral ensembles of national and international standing.
Matt Griffiths, Director of Dartington Plus, one of Arts Council England’s three centres of musical creative excellence, is looking forward not only to the concerts but also to the integrated education programme. "The concerts in the historic Great Hall at Dartington will be fantastic alongside the widespread education programme, which is very much a feature of the work of Dartington Plus. We hope as many people as possible, from all sections of the community, will be involved and enjoy the visiting orchestras.”
Full details on Orchestras Live are available online at www.dartingtonarts.org.uk or by ringing Dartington ARTS on 01803 847074.
Dartington Plus is a partnership between The Dartington Hall Trust, King Edward VI Community College and University College Falmouth – incorporating Dartington College of Arts. Funded by Arts Council England