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    • Bubble Wrap
    • Lockdown Tales >
      • Lockdown Tales Full List >
        • Lockdown Tales Readers
      • Lockdown Tales: Folktales
      • Lockdown Tales: Verse
      • Lockdown Tales: Modern Stories
      • Lockdown Tales: Musical Tales
      • The Quangle Wangle's Hat Competition >
        • Competition Gallery
    • Shows >
      • First the Dance, The the Feast
      • The Last Woodwose
      • Return of the Wildman
      • Strange Fish
      • YES: The Adrian Mitchell Show
      • The Dead Moon
      • Maps of Desire
      • Tatterhood
      • The Wolf Road
      • Birth of Pleasure
      • The Six Swans
      • The Nightingale
      • Now and Then
      • Behind the Scenes at Mary Warner's
      • Memories of Suffolk
    • Schools >
      • First the Dance, The the Feast
      • I Am a Woodwose
      • Abiyoyo & the Musicians of Bremen
      • The Coat of Umpteen Pockets
      • Little Red Chunni
    • Family Shows >
      • First the Dance, The the Feast
      • Orla Tour
      • Orla's Moon
      • Orla and the Sun
      • The Swineherd and The Princess & The Pea
    • Festivals >
      • How Night Came from the Sea
      • Storm of Stories 2016
      • Storm of Stories 2014
      • Storm of Stories 2012
    • Events >
      • Wild Woods
      • 25 Years of Wonderful Beast
      • Bottom's Dream
      • SPLASH!
      • Music Matters Most
      • Almeida Theatre Benefits
    • Podcast: Stories from the Archives
  • WB Singers
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MUSIC MATTERS MOST
(JUBILEE HALL, ALDEBURGH 2013)

'It was such a wonderful performance, with the spirit of both Imogen Holst and Britten shining through her words...' 
— AUDIENCE MEMBER
The book, Imogen Holst, A Life in Music, edited by Christopher Grogan, was the inspiration behind Music Matters Most. That this performance coincided with the Britten centenary felt “absolutely right”, as Holst would frequently and emphatically underline in her diary, though being her, she might have insisted on keeping in the background. But Wonderful Beast believes that this great musician, conductor, composer, teacher and inspirational musical force should be very much in the foreground.

Holst (1907-1984) was dedicated to two great composers: her father, Gustav, and Benjamin Britten. Her wonderful diaries are a unique insight into Britten’s working methods, his dreadful insecurities about Gloriana and how he relied on her to buoy him up, and they give us a glimpse of the frivolous fun that was also such a part of life at Crag House. They reveal her intense passion for Britten which had her reeling with joy or anxiety depending on his state of mind. They delight us with the detail of the meals cooked by the indefatigable Mrs Hudson and the many fortifying drinks she and Britten shared at the end of a hard working day.

Holst had a major influence in programming many of the Aldeburgh Festivals, championing and conducting unknown early music sung by the choir she formed, The Purcell Singers. She was instrumental in bringing the Amadeus Quartet to Aldeburgh, organising amateur recorder performances on the Thorpeness Meare and much more. She returned to composing after her retirement which gave her immense pleasure, as she said - “music matters most”. 

IMOGEN HOLST (CIRCA 1960S)
PENELOPE WILTON
THE FULL CAST
CATRIN JOHNNSON AND ROBERT MURRAY

performers

creatives

Narrator: Jon Canter
Voice of Imogen Holst: Penelope Wilton
Mezzo-soprano: Catrin Johnnson
Tenor: Robert Murray
Pianist: Rachel Fuller​
Director: Alys Kihl
Adaptation: Alys Kihl / Claude Harz
Photographer: Nick Tipping

funders

The Holst Foundation
The G&I Estate


“Music Matters Most was a triumph! I hope it will be performed many more times.  It was funny and touching and I was fascinated by it.” 
- AUDIENCE MEMBER

“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed "Music Matters Most" yesterday.  It was such a wonderful performance with the spirit of both Imogen Holst and Britten shining through her words and observations on their life and work together in Aldeburgh.”
​- AUDIENCE MEMBER

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