Movies and music is a popular theme for this year’s Bury St Edmunds Festival, bringing together award-winning scores, classic films and new releases.
There is less than two weeks to go before the annual entertainment extravaganza comes to the town, with everything from orchestral music to an art trail, street performers and theatre.
Film composer Jocelyn Pook, a former pupil of King Edward VI School, will be back in her home town on May 17 with her ensemble for an evening of music from her superb scores for films directed by the likes of Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorcese.
She has won numerous awards for her dynamic soundtracks, most recently for Akram Khan’s dance piece Lest We Forget and best new play King Charles III, which is transferring to Broadway.
The Orlando Consort is another festival favourite returning on May 19 to perform an acclaimed new soundtrack of 15th-century music for the silent masterpiece Le Passion de Jeanne D’Arc.
Music as diverse as Nick Cave and J S Bach has been used to accompany this powerful film, but this is the first time audiences can witness Joan of Arc’s moving trial, while hearing notes from her time.
The festival film series is again being hosted by the Abbeygate Cinema in Hatter Street with a range of ten thought-provoking films from classics to recent film festival award winners, including Tales of Hoffman, Life of Riley and IDA.
Documentaries are also part of the programme, with National Gallery, which goes behind the scenes of the gallery, La Maison de la Radio – a day in the life of Radio France – and Love is All, the celluloid story of 100 years of love and courtship with archive footage set to a stunning soundtrack
Festival manager Nick Wells said: “We all love going to the movies and it’s great that this year’s festival will feature several fantastic soundtracks and some of the best films around. Whether you’re a music lover or a film fan, or both, it’s a chance to see something new or revisit an old classic.”
To view the full programme visit www.buryfestival.co.uk
Tickets can be booked on the website or call 01284 758000 or visit the Apex box office. Films can also be booked direct with the Abbeygate Cinema at www.abbeygatecinema.co.uk
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