An Evening of Music and Cinema

Chelmsford Fringe Festival presents an evening programme of varied entertainment centred around music and immersive cinema experiences.

Sit back and relax as we take you on a journey of audio-visual entertainment in the heart of Chelmsford.

There are paid seats in front of the stage for your comfort and refreshments will be available.
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ENCHANTED CINEMA
'Enchanted Cinema connected with film maker Rhys Votano and musicians Explorers Society to develop a new visual experiences for a post lockdown generation. CineAura is a combination of music and cinema – taking audiences through the documentary stories of musicians on screen as they perform live on stage. This is a live score like no other.'

MARTIN NEWELL
A rock singer since his teens, Martin Newell spent much of his early twenties learning his trade in pubs, clubs and dancehalls. In mid-twenties he began making records, soon gaining a reputation as a writer of original songs with clever lyrics. A founder member of the now well-known Lo-fi band, Cleaners from Venus during the 1980s Newell also co-wrote songs with the pop star, Captain Sensible.

In the early 1990s, Newell unexpectedly became famous as a pop poet, often featuring on BBC radio shows and literature festivals. Much-published in national newspapers, he became resident pop poet for The Independent newspaper and its sister publication The Independent on Sunday for a total of 15 years. In 1993, he made his first solo album The Greatest Living Englishman, which was produced by XTC’s Andy Partridge. It was later hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as a rock classic.

By now said to be the UK’s most published living poet, he returned to making indie rock records. Newell’s songs have been covered by Alphaville, MGMT, The Damned and several other artistes. His earliest recordings, meanwhile, now stream in their millions on digital platforms such as Spotify.

A highly-entertaining live act, Martin Newell performs only rarely, refusing nowadays to tour at all. He has been the subject of a highly-praised documentary film Upstairs Planet (2019) which enjoyed premieres both in London’s West End and in New York.

Another documentary The Jangling Man, the director James Sharp’s intimate portrait of Newell’s life and work is due for release later this year. A new Cleaners from Venus album will be released on autumn 2022.

CHELMSFORD MALE VOICE CHOIR
The origins of Chelmsford Male Voice Choir (CMVC) can be traced back to the Boer War when the choir first sang to raise funds for British troops. The choir currently has over 60 members who are proud to wear the crest of the City of Chelmsford.

The choir’s highlight appearances have included Festivals of Male Voices at the Royal Albert Hall in 2014 and 2016, with audiences in excess of 5,000. We perform in various venues including regular performances to capacity audiences at lunchtime concerts in Chelmsford Cathedral.

Variety is the hallmark of our concert performances and our repertoire ranges widely, from choral works to arrangements of ‘pop’ classics and songs from the shows.

DANIELA BECHLY
Daniela established her career as a Lyrical Soprano in Opera Houses throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with roles such as Susanna, Pamina, Elvira, Agathe, Gretel and Cherubino. She appeared as Rhinemaiden in Wagner’s Ring Cycle at Covent Garden, performed as Malvina in Marschner’s Vampyre and The Goosegirl in Humperdinck’s Königskinder at the International Opera Festival Wexford, Ireland.

Concert work includes Beethoven's Ah Perfido, Mahler songs, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Mozart Concert Arias with the Lavenham Sinfonia, Verdi Requiem at St John's Smith's Square. She toured California performing Strauss’ Four Last Songs, appeared at the Bach House in Tokyo, performed and gave recitals and masterclasses at the International Festival in Mexico.

Recordings include Scottish, Irish and Welsh folksongs with the Trio Kairos, Hamburg, Flower maiden in Parsifal under Daniel Barenboim for Decca, Matthias Ronnefeld Song Cycles for Da Capo records Denmark, and Mahler 2nd Symphony arranged for two pianos and Chamber Choir for Musicaphon Kassel.

Recent engagements include a recital on poems by Theodor Storm for the Hamburg Conservatoire, Germany and Nielsen's Symphony No3 Espansiva, Vaughan William's Pastoral Symphony with the Suffolk Sinfonia, Die Winterreise with George Ireland, Piano in Bielefeld.

Future plans, Daniela is due to sing the Mahler's Rūckert Songs with the Lavenham Sinfonia 18.9.2022 under Michael Coleby, and Bach's Christmas Oratorio under Chris Borrett in Dedham, 17.12.2022.

She established the Pimlott Foundation in the name of her late husband, which involves young aspiring performers with professionals, on the concert platform, in workshops as well as within their educational programme.

THE CHELMSFORD SINGERS
Making music in Chelmsford since 1927 as one of the leading amateur choirs in Essex, the Chelmsford Singers perform regular concerts both in Chelmsford and farther afield.

The Chelmsford Singers are Directed and accompanied by JAMES DAVY; a charismatic and versatile musician with a wide range of experience as an organist, choir trainer and conductor, including recording and broadcasting on TV and radio.

Since August 2012, James has been Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral, where he leads a vibrant music department and directs the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. He is also the Musical Director of Chelmsford Singers, a dynamic mixed-voice choir with a distinguished history.
James spent six years as Assistant Director of Music at Blackburn Cathedral, where he helped run one of the largest Cathedral music programmes in the country. He acted as Director of Music in two separate periods and was also Music Director of Blackburn Music Society.
Formerly, an organ scholar of Portsmouth, Durham and St Albans Cathedrals, James was a chorister at Southwell Minster and also Assistant Organist at Winchester College. His organ teachers have included Philip Rushforth, Sarah Baldock and Andrew Lucas, and he has taken part in masterclasses with Jos van der Kooy, Ben van Oosten and Piet Kee.