John Harold
Member
Biography
John Harold began writing poetry and songs aged 15. After working with school and college orchestras in Manchester he developed his skills further at teacher-training college in London where he wrote for small ensembles, choirs and school music goups.
His first major work, "Undying Heart: A Requiem for AIDS", was premiered at the Free Grade Hall, Manchester in 1993. To coincide with the performance, Cassell published a book of poetry which John edited and contributed to, called "How Can You Write A Poem When You're Dying Of AIDS?". Pam St Clement and Anita Dobson featured excerpts from the book in the BBC World AIDS Day broadcast, "Positive Voices".
Between 1994 and 1997, John collaborated with award-winning composer Craig Snelling on several successful fundraising concerts for London Lighthouse. He also had poetry published by independent companies Poetry Now and Isparta Press. In Stoke, John shared the billing with Labi Siffre as part of World AIDS Day events.
Other theatre work at the time included writing songs and incidental music for the 50th anniversary production of "The Mad Woman of Chaillot" and "The Wizard of Oz".
At the end of 1997 John collaborated with poet Phil Willcock on a fundraising concert staged in 1998 called "7", for the Children With AIDS Charity. This concert featured Christopher Biggins, Gordon Kennedy and Patsy Palmer as celebrity guest readers of Phil's poetry, along with a string quartet from the London Gay Symphony Orchestra and opera singers. The concert raised £3000 for the charity.
John's first opera, "The Story of the Eldest Princess", was premiered in July 1999. Based on a short story by Booker Prize-winning author A.S. Byatt, the opera had a sell-out run. The work is in the process of being adapted into a shorter, smaller-scale opera.
John is currently working on several projects including song cycles of French Surrealist poetry, the poetry of Jacques Prevert and a selection by the German poet, Eric Fried. He is also working on a new children's opera.
John Harold is proud to be a member of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters.
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Performances |
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- Undying Heart: A Requiem for AIDS (1993) for male voice choir, string
quartet, piano, percussion, poetry readers
Duration: 2 hours
- Ocho Canciones (1995/6)
a song cycle for solo baritone and piano
Duration: 40 mins
- '7' (1997)
for solo singers, string quartet, piano, poetry readers
Duration: 90 mins
- The Story of the Eldest Princess (1998/9) a children's opera for chorus, soloists, woodwind, trumpet, string quartet, piano
Duration: 2 hours
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