Robin A. Smith
Robin A. Smith is an arranger, conductor and composer. He has had success in many different musical genres, having studied composition at the Royal College of Music and later as a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
He has conducted composed and arranged for some of the most celebrated artists in the world, including Andrea Bocelli, Elvis Presley, Stjepan Hauser, Jose Carreras, Aretha Franklin, Luciano Pavarotti, Enrique, Rod Stewart, Lionel Ritchie, Burt Bacharach and the 2 Cellos.
He conducted the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics for Mike Oldfield, as well as conducting concerts at Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and at the Sydney Opera House. He regularly conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.
He was asked to arrange The Wonder Of You, one of the Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra albums devised by Priscilla Presley, symphonic albums for Roy Orbison, Aretha Franklin and the Beach Boys. He currently tours the world with his reimagining of the iconic Tubular Bells album composed by Mike Oldfield.
Robin lives in Cheltenham, where he relishes performing his compositions and being part of the musical community.
Full details of his career can be found at www.robin-smith.co.uk.
TODAY’S MUSIC
All compositions by Robin A. Smith unless otherwise stated.
Impromptu No 5
Seven scenes from Suite, Le Weekend (A lovers’ musical journey through the French countryside.)
1. ‘Pres Du Lac’
2. ‘Un doigt sur Loire’
3. ‘Cyclo … Bien Temps’
4. ‘Une Embrasse puis Silence’
5. ‘Les Étoiles faire le Danse’
6. ‘Que Belle’
7. ‘Les Arbres ne parles pas un Mot’
Novelette No 3 – Francis Poulenc
Improvisation, FP176 ‘Homage for Edith Piaf’ – Francis Poulenc
Una Momento Silencio
Themes by Ennio Morricone
‘Once upon a time in the West’
‘Cinema Paradiso’
‘The Mission’
3 Pieces from Subjectives
‘The Awakening’
‘The Circling’
‘Fading Glimpses’
Themes by Henry Mancini
‘Charade’
‘The Days of Wine and Roses’
‘Moon River’
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) was born into a wealthy business family and was not allowed go to the conservatoire. But he began to compose, met Erik Satie, and became one of Les Six. Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) was born in Rome and wrote more than 400 film scores and 100 ‘serious’ pieces. Henry Mancini (1924–1994) was born in Ohio to Italian parents and became one of the giants of film music, as well as writing many ‘classic’ songs.
CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL SOCIETY
Since 2017, Cheltenham Music Festival Society has presented more than 180 Young Musician Concerts for young people to perform solo or in school groups. At 1pm on Tuesdays, the concerts are free, with a voluntary collection at the end to pay for the venue and the expenses of some of the performers. For more details, contact Andrew Auster: a.auster30@gmail.com.
These Young Musician Concerts will continue in the New Year, from January, but because of further restoration work in Pittville Pump Room until Easter, the concerts will be held in the Drawing Room at the Town Hall.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS
30 September Hilary Cronin (soprano) & Will Mason (piano)
7 October Tim Rumsey (piano)
4 October Bridget Yee (piano)
4 November Solihull School
11 November Pate’s Grammar School
18 November Bournside School
25 November Cheltenham College
2 December Ottilie Wallace (violin) & Winnie Chan (piano)