2014 Program Notes, Book 6 35
Best known for his work in film and television,
GEORGE
FENTON
is one of the UK’s most successful composers,
writing the scores for over 70 films and collaborating with
some of the most influential filmmakers. In 1990 he composed
the score for a BBC Natural History series,
Trials of Life
, his first
collaboration with Alastair Fothergill and the start of a creative
relationship that has spanned over 20 years. The Earth Trilogy
of
The Blue Planet
,
Planet Earth
and
Frozen Planet
changed
the face of natural history film, taking audiences to the furthest
reaches of our planet and showing them creatures, sights and
wonders that had jaws dropping around the globe.
Fenton’s score matched the ambition of these series, masterfully using music
to underscore the stories unfolding on screen. Following the success of
The Blue
Planet
, for which he won Ivor Novello, BAFTA and Emmy awards for Best Television
Score, Fenton created the show,
The Blue Planet in Concert
which has toured
globally, performed by many of the world’s leading orchestras.
Alongside his work in natural history Fenton has continued to compose for
theatre and film. Recent projects include the soundtrack for Terry Gilliam’s latest sci-
fi film
Zero Theorem
and he is currently working on Ken Loach’s new film
Jimmy’s Hall
and the new Disney Nature Film,
Bears
due for release in 2014.
Throughout his career Fenton has composed for theatre, film and television,
working with such notable theatre directors as Peter Gill; Howard Davies; Adrian
Noble and Richard Eyre and receiving Oscar nominations for
The Fisher King;
Dangerous Liaisons; Cry Freedom
and
Gandhi.
His work has been recognised with
numerous awards, receiving
multiple Ivor Novello, BAFTA and Emmy awards; a
Classical Brit; the Nina Rota award at Venice; a Lifetime Achievement award from the
Royal Television Society and a Fellowship of The Royal College of Music and BASCA.
Devised and Produced by
George Fenton • Alastair Fothergill • Jane Carter
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
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