Friday 5 June 2015

Something for the weekend: London Conchord Ensemble at Rathfinny Wine Estate

London Conchord Ensemble is a chamber ensemble of 12 players. Formed in 2002 the group includes a number of players for major London orchestras. From 12 to 14 June 2015 the ensemble is in residence at the Rathfinny Wine Estate, near Alfriston in Sussex, for the second Conchord at Rathfinny, giving visitors the chance to combine fine music with food, wined and the Sussex landscape. The theme of the weekend is the seas, and there will be music by George Crumb, Smetana, Britten, Sally Beamish and much more.

Events open on Friday 12 June with something rather striking, a wine-tasting and dinner, followed by a performance of George Crumb's 1976 piece Vox Balanenae (Voice of the Whale) performed on amplified flute piano and cello by Daniel Pailthorpe, Julian Milford and Thomas Carroll, and as directed by Crumb the work will be performed under blue lighting to reflect deep water and in masks to represent the "powerful impersonal forces of nature".

Saturday starts with an afternoon piano four-hands recital from Julian Milford and Alasdair Beatson in Mozart, Debussy, Schubert and Smetana's Ma Vlast. The evening concert commences with a new performance piece inspired by Virginia Woolf's The Waves and Britten's Phantasy Op.2 with Action to the Word. The group will also be joined by soprano Felicity Lott for a programme including music by Britten, Schubert, Faure, Trenet, and Sally Beamish's Debussy arrangement, La Mer. Late evening there is a lighter event, with accordionist Paul Hutchinson. Sunday starts with Bach, Marcello and Vivaldi at a coffee concert, and in the afternoon Beethoven's Quintet in E flat major for piano and winds, Op.16, and Schubert's Octet.

Guests are also welcome to explore the Rathfinny Trail, and there will be Rathfinny wine to sample. Sounds delectable doesn't it? Further information from the Rathfinney Estate website.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts this month