Winchester Chamber Music Festival
Photo credits: See Practical information below
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| Country and Region | United Kingdom — England |
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| Type of Festival | Music |
| Location of Festival | Winchester, England, UK |
| Festival Contact Information | Phone: +44 1962 873603 |
| Festival Description | Winchester Chamber Music Festival is back for its third year and once again features a rich and diverse programme of chamber music and song. The Festival is presented by the London Bridge Ensemble, one of Britain’s most vibrant and versatile chamber groups, with guest musicians Robert Plane, clarinetist and Lucy Gould, violinist. The festival programme has something to entice and inspire people of all ages. Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann rub shoulders with Bartók and Martinů and there’s a Romantic string quartet by Bridge, from whom the Ensemble takes its name. As well as concerts at the Discovery Centre, there’s a late evening concert (the Brahms Clarinet Quintet), at the lovely St Lawrence Church, a photographic exhibition, a participatory event for families, work with schools and a masterclass featuring budding young performers. Kate Gould, the Ensemble’s highly-acclaimed cellist and the Festival’s Co-director, received her early music training in Winchester and whilst now based in London, has shown her commitment to her home town by setting up the festival in 2008. This year it’s unashamedly somewhat of a family affair as guest artists are violinist Lucy Gould, Kate’s sister, who like Kate started her music training through the Winchester and Hampshire schools system, and Lucy’s husband, acclaimed clarinettist Robert Plane. The Festival has free tickets for 8-22 year olds (check out the website for further details) and Brasserie Blanc and Loch Fyne are the pleasant and convivial setting for the Festival club. |
| Festival Dates | April 19 - 22, 2012 |
| Festival Links | http://www.winchesterchambermusic.com |
Festival Story:
The London Bridge Ensemble, founded by pianist Daniel Tong, made its Wigmore Hall debut in 2005, and it was not long before it had firmly established itself as one of the most exciting groups on the chamber music scene. Festival appearances include City of London Festival, the Kerry Chamber Music Festival, Leicester International Music Festival’s lunchtime series and an annual residency at the Ponte de Lima Festival of Opera and Chamber Music in Portugal. Other engagements have included a return visit to Wigmore Hall and concerts at Sheffield Music in the Round, St David’s Hall Cardiff and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. A CD of works by Frank Bridge, from whom the Ensemble takes its name, was released in spring 2008 to critical acclaim, including recommendations by both Gramophone and International Record Review. The disc is part of the Epoch series for the Dutton label. The Ensemble continues its exploration of Bridge’s early works for Dutton with a CD to be released later this year. A recent Schumann recording for Sonimage Classics is also due in 2010, to be followed by a recording of works by Fauré on the same label.
The Ensemble’s name represents the group’s special ability to bring together different musical genres and styles from the fields of both chamber music and song, much to the enjoyment of audiences at the 2008 and 2009 Festivals – and you will see from the current programme that we continue to develop this. The name also reflects, through Frank Bridge, an admiration for English music of the early twentieth century, which has from the outset formed an important part of the group’s varied repertoire. Last but not least, the name is an affectionate homage to the bridge and station of that name in the City of London.
In late 2007, the Ensemble was awarded start-up funding to launch a new festival – and where better to hold it than Winchester, with which both Festival co-director Kate Gould and baritone Ivan Ludlow had musical connections in their youth, and where there is a strong appetite for chamber music? Since its inauguration in April 2008, the Festival has been recognised by audiences and funders alike as a significant event in Hampshire’s cultural calendar and the 2010 Festival builds on this support.
Practical Info:
Photo slideshow credits:
- In order of appearance
- Daniel Tong (L.B.E's pianist and festival co-director), photo by Benjamin Harte
- Kate Gould (L.B.E.’s cellist and festival co-director), photo by Eric Richmond
- Lucy Gould (guest violinist)
- Robert Plane (guest clarinettist)
- Festival logo
- London Bridge Ensemble, photo by Robert Carpenter Turner
Venue:
- Winchester Discovery Centre
Jewry Street
Winchester SO23 8SB
Venue:
- Winchester Discovery Centre
Jewry Street
Winchester SO23 8SB
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