Hatfield House, 25 July 2009 Buy Tickets
Hatfield House, Hatfield Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5NQ
Programme
4.30pm Gates Open
Before the afternoon’s entertainment begins, there’s time to enjoy all the fun of the traditional fairground stalls and visit the fascinating Napoleonic encampment. While you settle down to enjoy your picnic, you will be entertained by live acoustic music from renowned folk guitarist Martin Simpson.
7.15pm Napoleonic Cavalry and Infantry displays
Our troop of internationally renowned re-enactors will captivate the crowd as they skilfully bring to life the skirmishes of the most colourful and dramatic period of history. Later, they will rejoin us for a demonstration of equestrian precision in the form of an elegant musical ride.
7.55pm Evening gun salute
The English Field Artillery Company will announce the commencement of the evening’s musical programme with a volley of shots from an authentic vintage field gun, answered by infantry musket fire.
8.00pm - 10.30pm The Musical Programme
New English Concert Orchestra
Conductor: Douglas Coombes
Solo Clarinettist: Anke Batty.
Soprano: Denise Leigh
Tenor: Michael Bracegirdle
The opening of our moving musical programme is accompanied by a carefully choreographed and breathtaking air display by the Grace Spitfire. In true Battle Proms style, the evening continues with a wealth of triumphal classics, including Fingal’s Cave by Mendelssohn and The Blue Danube by Strauss II.
This year our superb soprano soloist Denise Leigh will be joined by the acclaimed tenor Michael Bracegirdle to perform an enchanting selection of arias and duets.
Naturally, the programme would not be complete without Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with live cannon and the unforgettable performance of Beethoven's Battle Symphony, a work which was originally composed to include the firing of 193 cannon as part of the score.
The Battle Proms rises dramatically to this challenge and, unlike the synthetic displays used at indoor performances, we use live cannon with real black powder explosions, each fired electronically to the original score by the orchestra’s percussionist.
The concert finale will encompass all the traditional flag-waving proms favourites including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory, culminating in a dazzling firework spectacular!
The Battle Proms Concert promises a wonderful evening of ground-shaking, breath-taking entertainment that you will never forget.
F.A.Qs & Extra Information
Ticket Information Buy Tickets Now!
In association with
Book Online or Information and Booking Line 01432 355416
Adult:
£26 until 31 January 2009. Online purchase only.
£27 from 1 February until 30 April 2009.
£29 from 1 May 2009 until the day before the concert.
£34 on the day of concert (subject to availability).
Child under 16:
£14
(under 5 years free)
Advance group bookings of 10 or more
qualify for a £2 reduction per ticket.
You'll be pleased to know there is no booking fee.
Click here to see our booking terms and conditions.
Click here to find out more about our fantastic hospitality packages.
Picnic Hampers
To order a superb picnic hamper for our Hatfield House concert:
click here
About Hatfield House
This Celebrated Jacobean house stands in over 1000 acres of parkland just 21 miles north of London. It is steeped in both Elizabethan and Victorian political history. Built between 1607 and 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and chief minister to King James I, it has been the family home to the Cecils ever since.
Within the delightful gardens stands the surviving wing of The Royal Palace of Hatfield (1485) where Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood and held her first Council of State in November 1558.
The parklands at Hatfield have to rate amongst the most beautiful and romantic of England with dog walks and marked nature trails throughout. It was beneath an ancient oak in this parkland that the young Elizabeth, as legend tells, heard the news of her sister Mary's death, and her accession to the English throne.
It is within the Queen Elizabeth Oak Field surrounded by these trees steeped in the history of England that the Battle Proms is staged.
Hatfield House official website: www.hatfield-house.co.uk
Location
Hatfield House, Hatfield Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5NQ
- Please bring your own picnic, but for safety reasons no fires or barbecues are allowed.
- A hearty Hog Roast and a bar will be available.
- Seating and cover is not provided so do bring chairs, tables, picnic blankets and umbrellas.
- No dogs, other than guide dogs, can be admitted.
- Ample free parking is provided.
- Please come early to allow plenty of time for parking.
- Special parking is available for disabled concert-goers.
- The Spitfire air display is subject to weather conditions