stalbanslife

The name Battle Proms comes from the Battle Symphony by Beethoven.  On an annual basis, this popular event takes place on the grounds of 400 year old Hatfield House, home of the 7th Marquess of Salisbury.

The whole concept of ‘Prom’  is to increase the popularity of classical music by playing at an informal setting, in which crowds can move around, eat, dance or whatever they choose. I performed all four actions last Saturday as I absorbed myself  in this charismatic event for the third time.

The crowd varied from young children to 90 year olds. We enjoyed everything from the beautiful orchestral pieces of music, the Napoleonic camp, the traditional fairground, a Diablo winestand but my personal favourites were the Infantry Displays (truly outstanding and a must-see) and the ever amazing 1812 Overture with its live canon fire.

The Sailor’s Hornpipe and Jerusalem brought a huge reaction (and maybe a joyfully patriotic tear or two!)  from the crowd, as did Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 1.  The Grace Spitfire (which served in World War II) did acrobatics overhead as the orchestra played appropriate music in the background. I am not a fan of warplanes but this Spitfire experience sent shivers down my spine. And did I mention the fireworks? I must have taken about 50 photos of them in my desperation to capture the brilliant effect!

My children are pop music fans but have always enjoyed the Battle Proms, especially when the sun sets and little lights appear everywhere. My 12 year old said ‘I love  the sense of community and the way the crowd is so enthusiastic.’

If you want to share your experiences of Battle Proms, please add your comment below.

To note;  Hatfield House is twenty minutes from St Albans town centre. Good bus connections. More information on www.battleproms.com and Hatfield House events; www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Romantic Russian music comes to St Albans Abbey on Saturday June 25th with performances of some of the most colourful and passionate scores ever composed for orchestra (7.30pm). Yet neither of the major works featured by St Albans Symphony Orchestra in its Festival Concert under conductor Bjorn Bantock is as totally Russian as it seems.

Pictures at an Exhibition was composed for the piano by Mussorgsky in 1874 as a musical realisation of paintings by Victor Hartmann, an architect friend who had recently died. But the suite’s enduring popularity is largely due to the brilliant orchestration of the work that the French composer Ravel made in the 1920s – not least its stirring finale depicting The Great Gate of Kiev. Other pictures famously include a ballet of canary chicks hatching from their eggs and the fearsome witch Baba Yaga hunting children from her hut on fowl’s legs

Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony takes listeners on another tuneful and richly orchestrated journey that leads from brooding melancholy to an ardently lyrical slow movement and a  triumphant finale. Although premiered in the composer’s homeland in 1908, the symphony was actually written in Germany, during a period of self-imposed exile. Like the Second and Third Piano Concertos, its melodic inspiration has made it a firm favourite with audiences.

Completing SASO’s Festival programme will be The Enchanted Lake, a tone poem by a third Russian composer, Liadov. Although never able to fulfil his potential as a composer, his short musical account of a misty, moonlit lake is delicate and highly atmospheric.

Tickets price £20, £16 and £12 (reserved), £10 (unreserved), £1 (accompanied children) and £5 (students) are available from the SASO Ticket Secretary (01727 857422), from the Abbey Box Office (01727 860780) or from allaboutstalbans.com.

Written by David Utting, SASO

Future Gardens

If you have children in or around the St Albans area, you may already be well aware of the recently opened Butterfly World in Chiswell Green and the ever- popular Willows Farm Village near London Colney.

BUTTERFLY WORLD PROJECT

Butterfly World is now in Phase III of its £27 M project and has been visited by 25,000 people since it opened just two years ago. The focus for this season is on the lifecycle of the Butterfly and making people aware of how fragile it is. Any schools who would be interested visiting  their education zone can apply via the website. Spread the word…

The children’s playground extension is now completed and suitable for all ages.  This consists of wobbly sheep, willow tunnels, rope bridge and log climbing- frame as well as sandpits. This year the tropical butterfly house is home to 600 species of butterflies!  The wildflower meadows are spectular! Bring a camera along to capture the beauty of the 12 unique Future Gardens (my personal favourite!). And finally, many locals are awaiting the opening of the massive biome (27 acre site designed in the shape of a butterfly’s head) in Autumn 2011.

  See www.butterflyworldproject.com for full information and prices (incl membership) The website also contains good photos as well as the story of how it all came to be. Really worth a look! Enjoy.

WILLOWS FARM VILLAGE

Like Butterfly World, this famous farm village  is both educational and fun yet has a charming atmosphere of its own! Willows started as a working farm and gradually developed into one of the top leisure attractions in Hertfordshire.

It now includes reindeer, wallabies, sheep racing, duck trails, Tristan Tractor Rides,Panning for Gold, fair rides, bouncy castles, Woolly’s Barn (great active fun for a rainy day), lakeside walks, guinea-pigs in dozens (our favourite) and many more attractions as well as good food and coffee.

From 23rd July to 4th  September 2011, the maize is open to all (see website). Parents may be pleased to hear that Activity Day Camps will be available for children at  approx £35 per day (8.30am – 5.30pm). And if you want to have a glimpse into the daily stuff, read the Farmer’s Blog on their flash website. There is even an interactive map on there too!  Note; some activities are seasonal – especially Santa’s visit!!

www.willowsfarmvillage.com

If you have enjoyed your visit to either attraction,  let us know.

As summer approaches, we can look forward to more places opening up to the public and as ever, we are surrounded by a great choice of events.

- Welcome back Clock Tower! This historic gem located near the St Albans Abbey, is reopening to the public this week.  Climb the 93 steps to the viewing platform and feast your eyes on the pretty sights of the city. Open Saturdays/Sundays/Bank Holidays (small charge applies)

- The Wizard of Oz is being performed at the Alban Arena on Monday/ Tuesday 1st/2nd May. Tel; 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk

- Chris and Pui Roadshow (from Cbeebies) at the Alban Arena on Sat 7th May. Tel 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk

- Roman Discovery Talks at the Verulamium Museum on Sat 7th May at 3pm www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

- Heartwood Forest BLUEBELL EVENT on Sun 8th May at 11pm – 3pm (self-guided trail with activities for children). see www.woodlandtrust.co.uk for history on this forest

- Beating the Bounds - ancient ceremony starting from Kingsbury Watermill in St Michael’s Village on Sun 8th May at 2pm.  This. 2 mile walk is  led by the Mayor and officers of St Albans District Council.

- St Albans Charity Cycle Ride on Sun 15th May. Starting point Oaklands College, Hatfield Rd from 8.45am See www.saccr.co.uk for full details

- HOT MIKADO – St Albans Operatic Society perform at the Alban Arena from Tues 10th – Sat 14th May. Tel; 01727 844488 or www.alban-arena.co.uk

- NOISY KIDS Concert for Children on Sun 15th May from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. More details on www.saso.org.uk

- CINDERELLA by the Vienna Festival Ballet Co at the Alban Arena on Sun 28th May at 2.30 and 7.30pm  www.alban-arena.co.uk

Many more events and updates on www.stalbans.gov.uk

 A fundraising event is taking place in St Albans to help support the Japanese Tsunami victims. It takes place in the Jubilee Centre (AL3 5NX) on Catherine Street tomorrow, Saturday 19th March between 11am – 3pm.

 This urgent event includes food and drink, flea market, origami crafts and entertainment.  Everyone is invited to come along or  donate bric-a-brac items/cakes before 11am tomorrow. Whatever support you give will be very much appreciated. All donations go to the Red Cross.

Please contact Marie on marieotchi@hotmail.com or me, Maria Larmer on marialarmer@gmail.com . Telephone 077 68411144.