The neighbourhood of Marylebone in Westminster can proudly state that it has been a pioneer for many of the modern cultural institutions that we recognise in modern London. In the 20th Century, there is now a huge collection of music festivals that bring the sounds, sights and experience connected to every genre of music into the capital. However, not many can claim to have their roots stretch back almost three hundred years as the Marylebone Music Festival can.
Quiet Beginnings
In 1737, the landlord of the Rose Tavern, Daniel Gough, was the architect behind the Marylebone Pleasure Gardens at the top of Marylebone High Street. It was always intended to be the venue of choice for high-calibre musicians to play the most celebrated music of the day for any gathered residents or visitors.
A Stellar Early Line Up
As it began to gain popularity, many celebrated composers would take the opportunity to have their work performed there in the stunning and genteel surroundings. James Hook, Thomas Arne and even the great maestro of the Baroque, George Handel, were all known to have graced the stages in what could be seen as the festival’s original run from 1737 to 1777.
A Modern Reawakening
In 2015, the classically trained violinist and artistic visionary Meghan Cassidy saw how this fine tradition could be revived, and the modern Marylebone Music Festival was stirred into life. She worked with the wonderful Orion Orchestra, a charity that supports emerging classical music talent, to create a thrilling program of contemporary music mixed with songs from the original gardens. Ten years later, it now runs for an entire week from the 16th to the 22nd of June in a celebration of musical heritage that has also raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for an impressive cause.
The Stage is Set
Manchester Square Gardens in W1 is the primary location for this exquisite combination of pop, jazz, opera, cinematic film scores and guided wellness sessions with several other venues in Marylebone stepping in to do their part. The Wallace Collection and Marylebone Parish Church will both be hosting events this year and there is definitely a lot to pack in.
The Perfect Program
For families and younger music lovers, there is an immersive adaptation of Peter and the Wolf performed by the incredible Noisy Notes. Cinephiles will be keen to experience the stirring and unmistakable sounds of Hans Zimmer and John Williams brought to life by the Orion Orchestra to deliver some of the most recognisable film scores of the modern age in a timeless and elegant setting.
Jazz it Up
Friday is when jazz comes to town in style. The Korean superstar violinist and singer, Danny Koo will be joined by his band and the Orion Orchestra for an evening of popular jazz and a couple of surprises too. The Gardens of Manchester Square will continue to bop and bounce late into the evening with a collection of musicians from the Royal Academy of Music, led by Manuel Humaran, on the same night.
A Night at the Opera
The writer and comedian Sue Perkins is on hand to curate an operatic evening on Saturday with conductor Toby Purser and the fantastic tenor Jesus Leon set to be the stars of the show. All before Bhavan brings elements of classical Indian music to the open air of Westminster for what promises to be a rousing and colourful end to the day’s proceedings.
Sunday Service
Mass accompanied by the music of Mozart will be celebrated on Sunday in an event that speaks to the heritage of the area, with all welcome and encouraged to get involved. The festival finishes with a reimagining of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew, using pop music classics to support and elevate the classic tale of wits, wills and wild romance.
A Decade of Distinction
The festival will be celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year and it matters a great deal to both the audiences that will be gathered there and the people that are involved in bringing it to life. In a modern cultural landscape that is all too often driven by commerce and mass appeal, the Marylebone Music Festival is a refreshing taste of how satisfying a heritage-infused event can be. It marries civic pride, the fostering of new talent and hundreds of years of music together, all under the shared skies of a London summer.
Dress to Impress
On top of the tailored picnic blankets in the pleasure garden surroundings, the festival retains an air of almost formal glamour. Intimate and authentic with a varied schedule for music lovers, it could very well represent the hottest ticket of the year so far. And, importantly, with the ever-changeable weather of the capital, it also looks as though the clouds will be far away and the sun will be shining. Always something that we can all raise our glasses and our voices for.
