I hope I can get through Tennyson’s epic poem, Enoch Arden, at the inaugural Ludlow Piano Festival without breaking down in tears after having to take up the reins from Simon Callow. Simon has sadly had to withdraw from the event (on Sunday May 28th) after securing a big part in a new Netflix project.
A performance of Enoch Arden was originally suggested to me by pianist James Lisney who will play the musical accompaniment by Richard Strauss in Ludlow.
The poem is an incredible, epic story of love and devotion written in 1864 by Alfred Tennyson. It has gained popularity in recent years and been performed by some of the world’s leading actors/readers and pianists (including James Lisney himself who first performed the piece with the great Richard Baker). James recommended the Glenn Gould and Claude Raines version to me who listened to it and immediately fell in love with the piece.
It’s a beautiful and very touching story in itself but, once you add the extra ingredient of Strauss’ piano accompaniment (and James’ sublime playing) it really becomes an incredibly moving piece. The first time I actually read it out loud (after prepping the script thoroughly in my head and on the page), I broke down in tears on several occasions. I couldn’t get through it. I just couldn’t speak the words – or focus on them!
I jokingly wrote to Simon saying that he’d better not pull out as I wouldn’t make it through it if I had to become his actual understudy (there was always a chance that he’d get a good job in the interim so I was preparing).
He then wrote back to say that this amazing job had come in for late May and that I would need to replace him.
So, I will just have to do my best to get through it without tears.
I think ‘Enoch Arden’ is a masterpiece and should be an unforgettable experience for our audience in Ludlow. Hopefully, for all the right reasons.
See you at the festival!
Alistair McGowan
Joint Artistic Director