On Wednesday (7/16) at the website Televisual (London), Jon Creamer writes that in August the U.K.’s Channel 4 will air a new documentary, “Addicts Symphony,” in which “composer and musician James McConnel unites ten classical musicians whose lives have all been blighted by addiction, in an orchestra for a one-off performance with the London Symphony Orchestra…. McConnel’s son Freddy, an aspiring and talented musician, died of a heroin overdose when he was 18 years old. The documentary is guided by his determination to save others like Freddy from a similar fate. The film will follow the musicians through to their final performance while showing their daily battles against their addiction. Paul Rissmann and members of the London Symphony Orchestra (Belinda McFarlane and Matthew Gibson) worked with the group, alongside McConnel to rehearse and compose a new piece to be premiered as part of the performance…. ‘Addicts’ Symphony breaks through stereotypes and shows that music can be truly transformational. We felt privileged to work with the UK’s leading addiction charity “Action On Addiction” and by the London Symphony Orchestra’s internationally renowned “Discovery” programme,’ ” said executive producer Philip McGovern.
Posted July 21, 2014
