Andrew Lloyd Webber was “utterly honoured” to have been requested to jot down the Coronation anthem.
The 75-year-old composing legend – who is called the creator of musicals akin to ‘Cats’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ – wrote ‘Make a Joyful Noise’ for King Charles’ crowning ceremony on Saturday (06.05.23) and has now advised how the monarch himself requested him to take up the distinguished gig over dinner.
He advised The Telegraph: “We had a dinner and had been speaking about music. He mentioned, ‘I suppose you wouldn’t be enthusiastic about doing an anthem?’ I mentioned, ‘In fact, I might be utterly honoured!’”
The Oscar-winning impresario – whose anthem was carried out simply moments after the crowning of Charles’ spouse Queen Camilla on the Westminster Abbey service – went on to explain the monarch as a “exceptional man” and wished to “pledge allegiance” to him along with his composition.
He added: “I believe it’s a gesture to a exceptional man and if I can pledge allegiance to somebody like that, I shall. I believe we’re very, very blessed. In my opinion, he may have essentially the most optimistic affect, not solely on this nation however world wide, in bringing folks again to values that maybe have been forgotten – greater than anybody I’ve met.”
Earlier this 12 months, the Lord – who was impressed by the Psalm 98 lyric ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, the king’ – expressed his want that the composition would encourage the nation to unite amid such a historic event.
He mentioned: “I performed, and tried to sing, my early rating for the King a number of weeks in the past. It appears so applicable to the second within the coronation service. I hope my anthem will encourage everybody throughout the nation to go and ‘make a joyful noise’ in honour of this incredible nationwide event, and will probably be sung by many at different joyful events sooner or later!”
