Rising Stars at Sledmere: young artists in the 18th-century style splendour of the Library

Theo Elwes

The 18th-century style splendour of Sledmere House in Yorkshire is the setting for a Spring season of concerts showcasing young artists. Rising Stars at Sledmere features three concerts in April and May, followed by two concerts in the autumn and a special Christmas celebration. The concerts take place in the Library, one of the 18th century rooms recreated in the early years of the 20th century following a disastrous fire. 

The season opens on 27 April with 21-year-old British/American violinist, Theo Elwes and Japanese pianist Kumi Matsuo in an Eastern European-inspired programme  with music by Bartok, Bloch, and Mieczysław Weinberg. Theo Elwes is the great, great grandson of the tenor Gervase Elwes (1866-1921) in whose memory the Help Musicians fund (formerly Musicians’ Benevolent Fund) was originally established following his premature death in a railroad accident in 1921.

On 12 May, The Avalon Trio, comprising three young British players, Benji Lock (piano), Louis Solon (violin) and Sebastian Williams (cello), in Rachmaninoff’s Trio Elegiaque No. 1 and Schubert's Piano Trio No. 1.  Finally, the Spring series ends on 25 May with a recital from soprano Alexandra Lowe and pianist Patrick Milne, in French music with text inspired by Greece, the Middle East and Alexandra’s country of birth, Spain, including Ravel, Bizet, Debussy and Viardot.

The recitals are at lunchtime and the ticket price includes lunch and entry to the parkland, gardens and farm park; full details from the Sledmere House website.