Fresh from his latest successful international conductor’s course in Sandbach, Allan Withington has been using some well earned relaxation time at his home in the picturesque village of Monflanquin in the Aquitaine region of South West France (above), to plan for his next innovative musical collaboration.

Welcome guest

Allan told 4BR that a recent welcome house guest was composer Simon Dobson, who he will work with in planning Stavanger’s Siddis programme later this year, as they look to make it a hat trick of victories at Norway’s premiere entertainment championship.

"I’ve wanted to work with Simon for some time, so the opportunity to ask him to visit Kirsten and I in France was ideal. He has a wonderfully inventive musical mind, so it was good to be able to relax and explore exciting possibilities."

Ideal choice

He added: "I thought Simon would be an ideal choice and we both look forward to producing a great new show.

The sunshine, wine, geography and history of this beautiful part of France certainly gave us plenty of ideas."

I thought Simon would be an ideal choice and we both look forward to producing a great new show. The sunshine, wine, geography and history of this beautiful part of France certainly gave us plenty of ideasAllan Withington

Passion

Simon agreed: "Meeting up with Allan gives you so many ideas as a composer. I think he must have known I would be impressed by the surroundings, but it was his passion for innovation and his desire to explore new musical avenues that excited me even more.

I’m sure we will be able to come up with something that will make a real impression."