6 minute read
OPENING WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA with Bath Festival Orchestra Residency
Experience the individuality, personality and creative free spirit of our Orchestra in Residence in beautiful and unique settings in Bath. The orchestra provides a platform for players coming out of music college, energetic and interactive, celebrating the unique voice that young talent plays in developing the performing arts. We bring you brass musicians performing at Party in the City, Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ in Bath Abbey and free open rehearsals at St Michael’s in our opening weekend extravaganza.
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Blasting Brass At Party In The City
Look out for the Bath Festival Orchestra brass players in Party in the City for an uplifting blast of pure brass magic.
Date: Friday 12 May
Price: FREE
OPEN REHEARSAL AT ST MICHAEL’S WITHOUT
A chance to get to know the BFO from the inside out. Come and meet them for a coffee and a behind-the-scenes look at how a concert is prepared.
Date: Saturday 13 May
Time: 11.30am – 1:30pm
Venue: St Michael's Without
Price: FREE
Pop Up Performances Around The City
Watch out for small groups of BFO musicians giving impromptu performances across the city.
Date: Sunday 14 May
Price: FREE Keep an eye on The Bath Festival website for more details of these events nearer the time.
‘We are very excited about our Bath Festival residency. We hope it will give you the chance to meet up with friends, step out of the everyday and share with us the creative free spirit that is at the heart of our performances. Whether inside Bath’s buildings or outside on the streets, we look forward to meeting you.’ Orchestra Leader Maren Bosma
Mozart Requiem At Bath Abbey
A selection of music including Marianna Martinez Opening from ‘Dixit Dominus’, Bruckner Locus Iste, Hans Andre Stamm Fanfare for Organ and Two Trumpets, and Mozart Divertimento in D Major K. 136
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ed. Süssmayr Requiem
Peter Manning, conductor
Bath Festival Orchestra, leader Maren Bosma
Matilda Johnston, organ scholar
Bath Camerata, chorus master Benjamin Kirk
Nadine Benjamin, soprano
Kitty Whately, mezzo soprano
Thomas Walker, tenor
William Thomas, bass
In the first half of this concert, BBC Radio 3 presenter Sarah Mohr-Pietsch takes us under the bonnet of the BFO. We shine a spotlight on the individual components and curiosities of an orchestra with musical examples illustrating how Mozart and his contemporaries had a titanic influence on musical language and orchestration –which lasts to this day.
After the interval the orchestra is joined by renowned local choir Bath Camerata for a performance of Mozart’s wonderful unfinished ‘Requiem’ with an array of exceptional soloists and unforgettable tunes.
Date: Saturday 13 May
Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Venue: Bath Abbey
Price: £5 – £35*
Event code: A18
Sponsored by Generously supported by
Charles Lewington
Edward Horesh
Classical Music Rising Stars
These five concerts showcase some of the most exciting classical talents of today who are on the launch pad to top class careers. The instrumentalists and the programmes are widely varied, and we are sure that the charisma of these performers will add sparkle to your festival days.
IYAD SUGHAYER, PIANO
Aram Khachaturian Poem (1927)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata in G, K.283
Jean Sibelius Pieces, Op.24 Nos.1-5
Robert Schumann Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op.26
Jordanian-Palestinian concert pianist Iyad Sughayer has performed numerous recitals and concertos across the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. His programme contrasts sparking Mozart and Schumann with more introverted works by Khachaturian and Sibelius.
TIM BEATTIE, GUITAR
Spanish Guitar Music by Albeniz, Rodrigo, Torroba, Falla and Tarrega
Charismatic Canadian guitarist Tim Beattie performs melodically driven works that celebrate and expand upon the rich tradition of Spanish guitar music. Some of the most beloved scores of Spanish guitar literature from Baroque to modern.
JAREN ZIEGLER, VIOLA AND LYNN ARNOLD, PIANO
Johannes Brahms Sonata in F minor, Op.120 No.1
Arvo Pärt Fratres
Frank Bridge Two Pieces for Viola and Piano
Louis Vierne Le Soir
Jaren Ziegler’s performance in the televised final of BBC Young Musician of the Year blew many listeners away. There is no doubt that this remarkable teenager will rise to the very top of his chosen profession.
Date: Monday 15 May
Time: 11am – 12pm
Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room
Price: £10 – £25*
Event code: C2
Date: Tuesday 16 May
Time: 11am – 12pm
Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room
Price: £10 – £25*
Event code: D3
Date: Wednesday 17 May
Time: 11am – 12pm
Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room
Price: £10 – £25*
Event code: E2
IRÈNE DUVAL, VIOLIN AND MACIEJ KULAKOWSKI, CELLO
Johann Sebastian Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G
Béla Bartok 2 movements from Sonata for solo violin
Maurice Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello
A rare opportunity to hear Ravel’s gorgeous duo sonata for violin and cello. Solo violin and cello masterworks offer the perfect framework to show off the talents of these remarkable musicians.
Generously supported by Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust.
Date: Thursday 18 May
Time: 11am – 12.10pm
Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room
Price: £10 – £25*
Event code: F2
RYAN CORBETT, ACCORDION AND EMMA BAIRD, VIOLIN
Antonio Vivaldi ‘Winter’ from the Four Seasons
Mikolag Majkusiak Sonata for Violin and Accordion
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Souvenir d’un lieu cher
Maurice Ravel Tzigane
Two young Scots show what can be done with the remarkably flexible combination of violin and classical accordion. Beginning with ‘Winter’ from The Four Seasons their programme moves through romanticism to pure fun with Ravel’s Tzigane.
Date: Friday 19 May
Time: 11am – 12pm
Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room
Price: £10 – £25*
Event code: G2
Connaught Brass
Jan Koetsier Kinderzirkus
George Frideric Handel
Suite from Water Music
Gabriel Fauré Pavane
Victor Ewald Quintet No. 1
Steven Verhelst Suite from Pulcinella 2.0
Felix Blumenfeld arr. Akugbo Sarabande
Victor Ewald Quintet No. 4
There is nothing more exciting than sparkling brass playing and we are delighted to welcome virtuoso trumpeter Aaron Akugbo back to Bath with his brilliant new quintet playing a widely varied programme which will show off their class to the full. Having already made their debut at the Lucerne Festival and London’s Wigmore Hall, the ensemble’s sound earned them 1st Prize in the Inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition and the Royal Overseas League Mixed Ensemble Competition last year.
‘A thrilling young ensemble at the start of what is sure to be a major international career’ Great Birmingham Brass Fest
A celebration of life – In memory of Sheila McCormack and others who generously gifted Bath Festivals a lasting legacy.
Date: Saturday 13 May
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Venue: St Swithin’s Church
Price: £12.50 – £30*
Event code: A6
Tom Borrow
Claude Debussy Images, Book 1
Sergei Rachmaninov Preludes, Opp 23 and 32 (selection)
Frédéric Chopin Études, Op.25 (selection)
Robert Schumann Fantasie in C major, Op 17
Tom Borrow is one of the most exciting pianists of today. At the age of 23 he is a BBC New Generation Artist performing at leading international recital halls such as London’s Wigmore Hall and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw as well as with major orchestras and conductors around the world. This programme will demonstrate his talent to the full, ranging from the beautiful impressionistic colours of Debussy to the full blown romanticism of Schumann with a dose of virtuoso fireworks from Chopin and Rachmaninov on the way.
‘Both technically brilliant and astonishing in its musicality’ BachTrack on his debut with the Cleveland Orchestra
Generously supported by Henry and Jane Brown.
Date: Sunday 14 May
Time: 5pm – 6.30pm
Venue: St Swithin’s Church
Price: £12.50 – £30*
Event code: B7
Find The Price For You
Have you seen our new flexible pricing? Find the right price for you on our guide on page 5
Siglo De Oro
Patrick Allies, director
William Byrd Mass in 5 parts with music by Ferrariensis, Cadeac, de Monte, Talls and Maister Jhan
2023 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd, one of the towering figures of English choral music. His Five Part Mass is an absolute masterpiece. In this programme its movements are interleaved by other works of ravishing renaissance polyphony. Siglo de Oro are one of the most exciting young choral groups of today specialising in this repertoire. Their recordings and performances are suffused with a driving commitment to this wonderful music.
‘Confident, sonorous and full of character’
Gramophone
Date: Tuesday 16 May
Time: 7.30pm – 9pm
Venue: St Mary’s Bathwick
Price: £12.50 – £30*
Event code: D13
Quatuor Agate
Luigi Boccherini String Quartet in G minor
Béla Bartók String Quartet No.6
Franz Schubert String Quartet in D minor, D.810 ‘Death and the Maiden’
Quatuor Agate are one of the best young string quartets in Europe and they offer us a programme of enormous emotional range. Schubert’s ‘Death and the Maiden’ is one of the very greatest pieces of chamber music and packs an enormous musical and emotional punch. Bartók’s last string quartet is a searing outpouring of emotion at the beginning of the Second World War. In contrast Boccherini opens the evening with a work of perfect classical poise and charm.
‘A compelling and memorable performance’
Edinburgh Music Review
Generously supported by Brian Woodford.
Date: Saturday 20 May
Time: 11am – 1pm
Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room
Price: £12.50 – £30*
Event code: H1
