The inaugural Schackenborg Music Festival represents a bold endeavour from the Danish Clarinet Trio

Schakenborg Castle, Denmark

The present circumstances do not seem propitious to organising a new music festival, but that is just what the Danish Clarinet Trio is doing. Taking place from 13 to 15 August 2021, the inaugural Schackenborg Music Festival (Tommaso Lonquich, clarinet, Jonathan Slaatto, cello, Martin Qvist Hansen, piano) is a bold endeavour aiming to bring music to one of Denmark’s most beautiful locations in a somewhat forgotten and lesser known corner of the country, Southern Jutland. The festival takes place at Schackenborg Castle, a 17th century manor house which became a Royal residence in the 1990s (home to Queen Margarethe's second son, Prince Joachim) and which is now owned by a foundation.

Situated between Germany and Denmark, the area has a complex history as it was the subject of a long-running dispute between Germany and Denmark. The region has over time shifted between being situated in Germany and Denmark, and reflecting that local history is one of three themes of the festival, with a focus on Danish and German performers. A second theme is in supporting emerging talent in those countries through a programme of masterclasses, artistic exchanges and musical collaborations, while the third theme of the festival is the aim to raise the profile of a relatively unknown corner of Denmark, with the aim in future editions of attracting international visitors to the festival and region.

This year's festival is presenting three concerts, all taking place in a recently restored barn on the castle's estate dating from the 1870s. But future editions of the festival are already being planned, with artists including cellist Nicolas Altstaedt and pianist Alexander Lonquich already confirmed for 2022. 

This year sees violinist Christian Tezlaff performing with the Danish Clarinet Trio in a programme of Bach, Brahms, Bartok, Nielsen, and Per Nørgaard, and Tezlaff will also be giving a solo recital playing from Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin. The Rising Stars concert features Michael Germer (violin), Jonathan Swensen (cello), and Gustav Piekut (piano) in Debussy's Violin Sonata, Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31, the world premiere of Bent Sørensen's Farewell Fantasy for solo cello and Shostakovich's Piano Trio No 2.

The festival looks all set to be one to keep your eye one, and a lovely excuse to visit a lesser known part of Denmark.

Full details from the festival website.