This year's Maldon Festival will open on Friday 23 June, adopting a Coronation theme to celebrate the accession of King Charles III.

The event will begin with a showing of Cecil B. DeMille's epic The King of Kings. Continuing the Festival's tradition of famous silent movies with live organ accompaniment, award-winning organist Jonathan Eyre will embellish and highlight the action on-screen.

Jonathan has become a firm favourite with Maldon audiences and his imaginative accompaniments have been described as "exciting", "extraordinary", and "really, really impressive".

An active church musician and concert organist, Jonathan regularly performs with many choral groups. He is Musical Director of Carshalton Choral Society, where he is responsible for a full programme of orchestral choral concerts.

Jonathan Eyre was Assistant Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral for four years, where he recorded a series of CDs of the music of Bach, and several other solo and choral albums. (Photo: Maldon Festival)

Colin Baldy, Maldon Festival's Artistic Director, told Nub News: "Jonathan has appeared on many occasions at the Maldon Festival, accompanying our Silent Movie night. It is always a pleasure to hear his remarkable and imaginative accompaniments to the films.

"We are delighted to be welcoming him back in 2023."

The King of Kings is said to be the Greatest Story Ever Told, as only Cecil B. DeMille could tell it. In 1927, working with one of the biggest budgets in Hollywood history, DeMille spun the life and Passion of Christ into a silent-era blockbuster.

On Saturday 24 June, audiences will get to hear two piano recitals. Angus Foster, one of the young members of St Mary's Choir, will give a free lunchtime recital at 12 noon. His programme includes music by Haydn, Debussy, and Chopin.

The main event on June 24 is an evening piano recital given by James Housego. James was organ scholar at St Mary's between 2018 and 2021, when he began his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

"Maldon can be rightly proud of the achievements of this talented and remarkable young man," Colin said.

From 7.30pm, James will perform:

• Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 10 No. 2
• Brahms Rhapsodies Op. 79
• Liszt Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses III S. 173 No. 7 "Funerailles"
• Shostakovich Prelude & Fugue Op. 87 No. 24
• Liebermann Nocturne No. 5 Op. 55
• Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 10 No. 3

The final concert of the first weekend will be given on Sunday 25 June at 7.30pm by Triptych. Main ensemble members Christopher Weston and Jefferey Wilson are back by popular demand, thanks to their great popular with Festival audiences.

"Their talent and skill as performers make their partnership on stage a wonderful thing to behold," Colin added.

"Audiences are always delighted by their blend of classical and jazz."

This programme will pick up the festival's theme of celebrating the Coronation.

All four concerts on the opening weekend take place in St Mary's Church above the Hythe in Maldon, and can be booked online.

Tickets are also available to purchase at Maldon Books.

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