The actress who played Miss Moneypenny in James Bond films is coming to Ripon and Knaresborough as part of a series of concerts celebrating a distinguished British composer.

Caroline Bliss, who appeared alongside Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, will attend the world premiere of Sir Arthur Bliss’ Viola Concerto at Ripon Cathedral on Saturday (July 19).

Caroline is the granddaughter of Sir Arthur, who is the subject of a series of global events marking the 50th anniversary of his death in 1975.

Sir Arthur was the Master of the Queen’s Musick who composed music for Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965 and the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969. His works ranged from orchestral compositions and ballets to film scores.

David Salter, the Harrogate-based chairman of the Arthur Bliss Society, said this weekend’s concert in Ripon was the centrepiece of 207 performances of Bliss works being performed worldwide for this year's anniversary.

The orchestration for the concerto has been carried out by Philip Wilby, who lives in Summerbridge, and was formerly professor of composition at Leeds University. He also owns Sir Arthur’s piano.

The Orchestra of Opera North, conducted by Tom Fetherstonhaugh and featuring viola soloist Tim Ridout, will perform the concert in Ripon, which is being staged as part of the Ryedale Festival. The concert also features Vaughan Williams’ The Wasps Overture and Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

Knaresborough recital

The weekend will be rounded off by an opportunity to hear the Bliss performed in its original version as a violin sonata by Canadian violist, Maxime Despax with Christopher Atkinson on piano at the Wesley Centre in Harrogate on Monday at 1pm.

The district’s contributions to the Bliss anniversary will also feature a song recital at St John the Baptist Church, Knaresborough on Saturday August 9, as part of Knaresborough FEVA.

The recital will be given by Matt Secombe, the great grandson of Sir Arthur Bliss and the grandson of Sir Harry Secombe, who performed at the church in 1991 when recording the TV programme Highway. The programme will consist of songs by Bliss, Vaughan Williams, Rebecca Clarke, Amy Beach and Charles Ives. Caroline Bliss is due to attend.

Bliss works are being performed in locations as far as New Zealand and the United States as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.

Harrogate has already heard a performance by Harrogate Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bryan Western, of the Cello Concerto with Lily Dai as soloist in March this year and the suite from the film music to Things to Come in June 2025.