Classical Guitarist John Williams Set to Play at Derngate

One of the world’s most celebrated classical guitarists, John Williams, will perform at Royal & Derngate for one night only on Sunday, June 8 at 7.30pm.

Conductor Alexander Shelley will join Williams and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a programme of music comprising Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, Elgar’s In The South, Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Stephen Goss’ Guitar Concerto.

Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez is considered one of the pinnacles of Spanish music and is surely the most popular guitar concerto in the world. Inspired by the composer’s honeymoon, the concerto conjures up the palatial gardens at Aranjuez, and, as Rodrigo recalled, ‘the fragrance of magnolias, the singing of birds, and the gushing of fountains’.

Elgar’s In The South was composed during a family holiday in Italy in the winter of 1903 to 1904. The work is dedicated “To my friend Leo F. Schuster” – a music lover and patron of the arts who died in 1927.

Gershwin’s An American in Paris is a symphonic poem written by the American composer in 1928.

Before the performance, audiences are invited to attend a free pre-concert talk with John Williams and Alexander Shelley at 6.30pm, hosted by BBC Radio Northampton’s John Griff.

Tickets cost from £14.50 to £32.50 with tickets for Under 26s priced £11 as part of the Real Discounts scheme, and tickets for under 14s and schools at just £5 each.

To book tickets for the performance call the Box Office on 01604 624811 or go to www.royalandderngate.co.uk