Little Missenden Festival 2008

Event 3 2008

O thou transcendent

A film about Vaughan Williams

by Tony Palmer

Saturday October 11th  11.00am

Little Missenden Village Hall

Tickets £5 unreserved

There are good reasons for us to show Tony Palmer’s new biography of Vaughan Williams, O thou transcendent. It’s a memorial to our late patron, Ursula Vaughan Williams (who co-operated in its making); it marks the 50th anniversary of RVW’s death; and it’s a cracking good film – “stunning” (The Telegraph), “a mesmerising masterpiece” (The Observer).  Tony has kindly agreed to come and introduce it – ‘for Ursula’.  

The film reappraises RVW – not a cuddly folk collector writing rustic “cow-pat” music, but a central figure in our musical heritage, the source of “some of the bleakest, most desperate and yearning English music written in the last 100 years”.  It has archive performances by Boult and Barbirolli, newly-discovered interviews with Vaughan Williams himself, and specially-recorded extracts from the music.  

There’s more Vaughan Williams in Events 8, 11 and 12.

The film lasts about 2½ hours, starting at 11.00, with a 40 minute lunch break.  We’ll arrange sandwiches and drinks (details when you book) – or there are two local pubs.

Tony Palmer has directed nearly 100 films, including landmark profiles of composers like Britten, Walton, Stravinsky, Berlioz and Puccini – not to mention a 9-hour biography of Wagner featuring Richard Burton and Vanessa Redgrave.  

His work impresses not only for its creativity, but for his perceptive insights into the minds and lives of his biographical subjects.

“This film will send people rushing for the music that they don't know, and can only widen Vaughan Williams's appeal further and the appreciation of his art. It is the perfect curtain-raiser for a year of commemoration, and one which, like so many of Palmer's films, will be a reference point for decades to come” (Simon Heffer, Telegraph)

“Tony Palmer… a clear seeing, visionary artist, pursuing with precision and perfection the image which draws him onwards” (Yehudi Menuhin).

Tony Palmer’s website

RVW Society website

Little Missenden Festival 2008