Malcolm Arnold’s A Grand, Grand Festival Overture was inspired by a humorous cartoon by Gerard Hoffnung and written for the 1956 Hoffnung Music Festival. It was first performed on 13 November 1956 at the Royal Festival Hall, London, by the Morley College (billed as Hoffnung) Symphony Orchestra, with Dennis Brain (organ), conducted by the composer. Arnold is said to have dedicated it to President Hoover, but no such inscription appears on the autograph.
First recording: Columbia 33 CX 1406. Live recording of the premiere performance on 13 November 1956 Currently available recordings include: HMV: 5.72480-2 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Malcolm Arnold Decca: 444 921-2 Philharmonia Orchestra, Michael Massey Conifer: 75605 51240-2 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley Chandos: CHAN10293 BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Rumon Gamba
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