Inside David Arnold’s love letter to classical music
At Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Close Up Classical with David Arnold offers a refreshing and deeply personal way to experience classical music. Hosted by film composer David Arnold, the evening centres on a simple but engaging idea: Arnold selects some of his favourite classical pieces and shares with the audience why they resonate with him.
Arnold proved to be a thoughtful and engaging guide throughout the night. His commentary framed each piece around a particular theme, helping the audience understand what draws him to the music. The evening opened with a focus on joy, beginning with the sparkling overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn. This was followed by the elegant waltz from The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, whose sweeping melodies lifted the mood and set a celebratory tone for the programme.
A particularly enjoyable aspect of the evening was the back-and-forth between Arnold and violinist Lizzie Ball. Their exchanges offered insight not only into the music but also into the performer’s perspective. Arnold spoke with clear respect for musicians, frequently highlighting the demands of recording sessions where players are often required to sight-read complex scores with very little preparation time. These moments gave the audience a greater appreciation of the skill and discipline behind the performances.
For me, the highlight of the night came during the programme’s exploration of yearning; the feeling of striving for something just out of reach. Arnold spoke about his love of melodies where each note feels inevitable, as though the music has no choice but to unfold in the way it does. This idea was beautifully illustrated through extracts from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the Adagietto from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, both of which created one of the most moving moments of the evening.
Arnold also challenged the perception that classical music must always be serious or formal. Introducing a playful piece by Benjamin Britten, he explained that he chose it simply because it made him laugh; a reminder that humour and curiosity are just as present in classical music.
In the intimate setting of Ronnie Scott’s, the result was a warm, engaging evening that felt less like a traditional concert and more like being invited into a musician’s world to hear the music that inspires them most.