One of the
best festivals anywhere in the world audience feedback
REPORT CARD
The
12th
East Neuk Festival
took place between 22 June and 3 July 2016
263 artists 4 continents music from
around
Musicians came from:
China / Czech Republic Denmark / England / Finland Germany / Hungary / Netherlands Palestine / Scotland / Serbia Taiwan / USA ENF featured more than
100 local amateur musicians and budding sand artists, and it collaborated the Waid Academy in Anstruther.
100 works 5000-years old new commissions from
to
90%
of attenders
described the festival as either
excellent
or very good
THE PROGRAMME Each year the ENF programme evolves and emerges out of discussions with the artists, and opportunities that arise to bring musicians together for unique musical collaborations. It is this way of working that gives each year its particular themes and variety.
(Mozart, Schubert, Schoenberg), Poland (Chopin), Hungary (Liszt), Bohemia (Dvorak), Russia (Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky) England (Parry) and France (Debussy).
In 2016, the music of two geniuses and close friends of the Romantic Era dominated: Christian Zacharias brought piano, chamber and symphonic music by Schumann, while the extraordinary Calidore Quartet returned
Scotland (James MacMillan), Palestine (Nizar Rohana) as well as new work by members of the Kosmos Trio.
of the quartets of Mendelssohn. From these two ideas we branched out in all directions to create a journey through a century of Romantic music from all over Europe including Germany (Beethoven) Austria
We had new music from the USA (David
It was with great pleasure that we welcomed back the thrilling Pavel Haas Quartet and Theatre of Voices, while ENF debuts were made by cellist Julian Steckel, pianist Joseph Moog, the SCO Chorus, Oud master Nizar Rohana with his trio, the Kosmos Ensemble and Classic Jazz Orchestra.
What the audience said:
(in our post-concert survey)
“Altogether a truly special experience.”
“It is better planned and organised than other festivals we go to that have bigger budgets. Well done.”
“I love the informality of ENF and the very high standard of performance and the effort to support young classical musicians - keep it up!”
“Pavel Haas Quartet were excellent. We travelled a long way just for that.”
MEMORIAL GROUND It was inspired by the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme which fell on 1 July. ENF commissioned Pulitzer Prize winning composer, David Lang, to create a piece which choirs everywhere could customise to create their own personal commemorations of people of their communities who fought at the Somme. The world premiere version was realised by Paul Hillier and brought together singers from his own Theatre of Voices group with amateur singers from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus, St Andrews Chorus, Anstruther Philharmonic and Waid Academy. Following the premiere all of the materials required to create a performance were made available for free online, and the project runs until November 2016 (the centenary of the battle’s end) and aims to inspire choirs across the country to create their own performances.
What the audience said: “Memorial ground was incredible. Sublime combination of music, voices and the words of those who cared about family and the experience of the Somme”
“Went to the Memorial Ground concert. 1000 mile round trip. Worth every mile.”
“Mesmerised by Memorial Ground”
“Birdsong and rain interacting with Memorial Ground, highlighting how the festival can make the most of place”
the
retreat
The ENF Retreat is our special project for brilliant young musicians from all over the world – to bring them together for a very special week of playing and learning from each other and their coaches.
This year theyfocused on two of the very greatest chamber works: Schoenberg’s Verklaerte Nacht and Schubert’s Quintet for Strings, coached by Alexander Janiczek, Krzszytoff Chorzelski, Ursula Smith, David Watkin and Valentin Erben. The retreatants were: Hung-Tzu Chu (Taiwan), Savitri Grier (England), Abigail Hayward (Scotland), Laura van der Heijden (England), Leander Kippenberg (Germany), Diyang Mei (China), Tami Pohjola (Finland), Colin Scobie (Scotland).
What the young players said:
What the audience said:
“It’s always amazing to play with such good musicians, it opens you to what is possible. Sometimes just being reminded of that enables you to explore sound, energy and ensemble on a completely different level, and that is something that stays with you and can’t be anything
“The Retreat concert was pure magic”
your musical career.”
“Marvellous that the Retreat is going from strength to strength”
“Meeting amazing musicians and getting to play with these amazing mentors in the concerts, and being coached by David and Valentine was the most precious experience I could ever ask for! Moreover, being supported by these amazing music lovers, the gratitude is hard to describe!”
2016 was the second year of the Retreat which was once again supported by the Misses Barrie Charitable Trust, while individual artists were support by The Cross Trust, The Fidelio Trust, The Fenton Arts Trust, The Solti Foundation, as well as private individuals, Kate and Gavin Gemmell, Colin and Sue Buchan and Frank Hitchman.
Why ENF Needs Your Support ENF is an exceptionally successful festival, blessed with a large and loyal audience, fantastic team and amazing artists who love performing in this wonderful part of Scotland. Yet none of that success would be possible without long term public funders Creative Scotland and Fife Council, or the many trusts and foundations who support our work, especially Misses Barrie Charitable Trust and Dunard Fund (many others are acknowledged overleaf). And none of it would be possible without the many private individuals who choose to make a donation or become a patron to help secure its future. These donations can amount to as much as 50% of our total income – and we value every single one. We also respect the fact that the people who are contributing expect us to use their money wisely. So we keep our overheads and year-round running costs to less than 22% of our total expenditure. Everything else goes towards the music, front of house, parking, free programmes, staging, venue management, promotion… all those things that led one survey respondent to write: “Quite apart from the music, I was very struck by the excellent refreshment and stewarding arrangements which the festival volunteers provided. Although a stranger to the area, I was made to feel very welcome and it was good to feel that the festival is so well rooted in the local community.” Raising funding from public sources, from trusts and foundations is extremely competitive patrons remain stable from year to year giving us a degree of certainty on which we can plan for the future. We cannot exaggerate how valuable that is.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY OCTOBER: throughout the 1st week: BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert will broadcast ENF 2016 performances 21 NOVEMBER: Mailing of Preview 6 FEBRUARY 2017: Mailing of Full Brochure 13 FEBRUARY: Priority Booking Begins 21 FEBRUARY: General Booking Begins 28 JUNE - 2 JULY: 2017 FESTIVAL! Elisabeth Leonskaja, who will lead a weekend-long Schubertiad which also features the Belcea Quartet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. 29 REGENT STREET EDINBURGH, EH15 2AY ian@eastneukfestival.com
A SAD FAREWELL In 2016 we said farewell to Frank Hitchman who sadly died shortly after this year’s festival, the start in 2005. Later he joined the Board of Trustees and was active in advising on all He was a generous donor to ENF – often requesting that his gifts be anonymous: for him Without people like Frank, ENF could not have become the event it is today. He was much loved and valued by us. He especially loved 19th century opera and song, and we believe we have a concert up our sleeves for the 2017 programme that would have had him beaming with pleasure, so we aim to pay our own tribute next Summer. He and other dear friends of the festival who passed away recently shall be fondly remembered.
ENF 2016 could not have taken place without the generous support of: = founder patron Accurate at the time of going to press.
PREMIER PATRONS Toby & Kate Anstruther Geoff & Mary Ball Arnold & Tove Brown Sir Ewan & Lady Brown Svend Brown & Roy McEwan Donald & Corinne Brydon Colin & Sue Buchan Virginia Drabbe-Seemann Gavin & Kate Gemmell Shields & Carol Henderson Ian & Esther Higgins Mr Frank Hitchman Rachel & Nicky James Norman & Christine Lessels Ann & James Macdonald Donald & Louise MacDonald Robert H Mackay & P.A. Whitley Elaine Ross Michael & Anne Usher Mrs Eileen Waddell Hedley G Wright GOLD PATRONS Gavin & Sarah Anderson William & Elizabeth Berry Robert Forman & Liz Childs Sheila Colvin John & Sue Frame Jay & Richard Hitchman J. Douglas Home David & Pam Jenkins David McLellan Richard Price & Pauline Fox Dr Larry & Mairi Rolland Ian & Isabel Sandison David & Elizabeth Simpson Richard & Christine Simpson Alasdair & Valery Speirs George & Kathleen Tait Anny & Bobby White SILVER PATRONS Cathy & John Adamson Donald & Janis Bain Neil & Fiona Ballantyne Mrs Valerie Barratt Mrs Veronica Bell
Gerard & Dorothy Cambridge Harald & Judy Carrick Mrs Jennifer Corbett Mrs Diana Crichton Mr & Mrs Michael Gilderdale Ronnie & Ann Hanna James & Kath Hardie Gavin & Anne Hepburn Ian Hutton Jeanette & Harry Johnston Angela & James Kellie Mrs Patricia Mackenzie Mrs Kate MacSween Colin & Claire McClatchie Helen Page Dr Nicholas Phillipson Mrs Cynthia Reekie Ernst Reimann Robin & Rae Singer Linda Sutherland Krysia & Grenville Williams Ronnie & Catherine Wilson BRONZE PATRONS Jenny & Keith Fairweather Ruth & Euan Fraser Dr & Mrs Stephen Illingworth Vivien & Geoffrey Millar Harvey & Jenny Rigg Nick Jones & Jean Shaw Mr & Mrs Michael Spencer Margaret & Allan Sturrock John & Sheena Sturrock Anne Waring Ven Dr Ian Young MBE …and others who wish to remain anonymous. Subscribers are acknowledged on our website.
TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS Binks Trust Connell Trust Cruden Foundation Ltd. Dunard Fund Fidelio Charitable Trust Solti Foundation The BJ Trust The Cross Trust The Fenton Arts Trust The Golsoncott Foundation The Hugh Fraser Foundation The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust
INDIVIDUALS, CONGREGATION, CLERGY AND STAFF OF: Crail Parish Church Dunino Church Elie Church Kilrenny Church St Michael & All Angels Church, Elie St Monans Church Anstruther Fisheries Museum Ardross Farm Shop Blacketyside Farm Shop Built by Ecko Byre Theatre Caiplie House Callum MacLeod Cambo House & Estate Cocoa Tree Shop Crail Community Hall Crail Fish Bar & Café Crail Museum Creative Scotland Elie Letting Elie Newsagents Elie Town Hall Event Tech-Style Ltd Festivals in Fife Fife Council Honeypot Guesthouse & Tearoom Hub Tickets Kingsbarns Distillery Kinkell Byre Michael Downes Peter Salked St Andrews First Aid St Andrews Library St Andrews Museum The Crail Gallery The Smoke Fired Whole Foods Shop University of St Andrews Music Dept. Visit Scotland Waterstones ENF BOARD OF TRUSTEES Donald MacDonald CBE, Chair Shields Henderson, Treasurer Svend Brown, Secretary Graham Anderson, trustee Kiki MacDonald, trustee Hilke MacIntyre, trustee Cllr. Elizabeth Riches, trustee
Our thanks to you all! G F the golsoncott foundation
ENF TEAM Svend Brown, Artistic Director Ian Gray, General Manager Kate Whitlock, Production Manager Ruth Davie, Retreat & Web Manager Debra Boraston, PR Helen Wyllie, Graphic Design