Armidale might have a small population of around 25,000 and be located remotely from major cities, but we can boast a rich cultural life. Dot and I have just attended some recent events and anticipate some interesting offerings in the short term.
For example, last weekend we attended an amazing performance of Monty Python's Spamalot produced by the Armidale Drama and Musical Society.
This started as a motion picture developed by the renowned John Cleese can called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It tracks King Arthur's quest for the holy grail and features such participants as the Lady of the Lake, Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, Sir Bedevere, and a large cast of 'others'. However, the version we saw was a musical 'ripped off' from the film by impresarios in New York. Most of the participants in our version were local, including a huge production team of about 25 people, an orchestra of 14 players - mostly wind and percussion, and something like 30 people acting and singing on the stage. The whole event was superbly done - dynamic, amusing - what else given John Cleese's work and the title which clearly sent-up the Arthurian legend, wonderful sets, and great singing. What more could one want? And the stage? That was The Armidale School's (TAS) Hoskins Centre. This top-flight private school has a theatre in which grand opera and events like Spamalot can be performed. It has everything needed for such performances.
Six days later we returned to the same venue to listen to The Australian Haydn Ensemble, a group of very young but excellent musicians who perform nationally and internationally - including the United States. Now Armidale is on their itinerary!
They were also excellent and performed a variety of works by Haydn (String Quartet 'La Chasse' (The Hunt)), Mozart (Oboe Quartet K370, String Quartet (The Hunt), and Janitsch (Oboe Quartet). This quartet has, earlier in the week, given classes at Armidale's Conservatorium ... yes, we have one of those too!
Coming up in two weeks time we have our annual international film festival, and this one features 13 films over 3 days that have all won or been nominated for major awards: Palme D'Or, Gloden Globe, BAFTA, Oscar, Silver Ribbon, Cannes, and so on. More interestingly for me are the national origins of the films. Would you believe that they come, in order screened, from: Spain, Estonia, Mongolia, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Iran, France, Japan, Sweden, Romania, China, and Germany. Where are Hollywood, Bollywood, Australia and Britain. It seems we don't produce anything worthwhile!
For example, last weekend we attended an amazing performance of Monty Python's Spamalot produced by the Armidale Drama and Musical Society.
This started as a motion picture developed by the renowned John Cleese can called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It tracks King Arthur's quest for the holy grail and features such participants as the Lady of the Lake, Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, Sir Bedevere, and a large cast of 'others'. However, the version we saw was a musical 'ripped off' from the film by impresarios in New York. Most of the participants in our version were local, including a huge production team of about 25 people, an orchestra of 14 players - mostly wind and percussion, and something like 30 people acting and singing on the stage. The whole event was superbly done - dynamic, amusing - what else given John Cleese's work and the title which clearly sent-up the Arthurian legend, wonderful sets, and great singing. What more could one want? And the stage? That was The Armidale School's (TAS) Hoskins Centre. This top-flight private school has a theatre in which grand opera and events like Spamalot can be performed. It has everything needed for such performances.
Six days later we returned to the same venue to listen to The Australian Haydn Ensemble, a group of very young but excellent musicians who perform nationally and internationally - including the United States. Now Armidale is on their itinerary!
Coming up in two weeks time we have our annual international film festival, and this one features 13 films over 3 days that have all won or been nominated for major awards: Palme D'Or, Gloden Globe, BAFTA, Oscar, Silver Ribbon, Cannes, and so on. More interestingly for me are the national origins of the films. Would you believe that they come, in order screened, from: Spain, Estonia, Mongolia, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Iran, France, Japan, Sweden, Romania, China, and Germany. Where are Hollywood, Bollywood, Australia and Britain. It seems we don't produce anything worthwhile!
And just one week later, the Armidale Symphony Orchestra is having an evening with Rogers and Hammerstein, featuring music from Oklahoma, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Carousel, South Pacific, and State Fair. This will actually be performed twice, so they must be expecting a large audience! As with the fist two events, the performers are mostly local.
If you'd like to move to Armidale to enjoy a great cultural life, let me know and I might be able to help!
AS
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