The Kirker Music Festival at the Star, Alfriston

A THREE NIGHT HOLIDAY | 7 NOVEMBER 2023

After a successful first visit to Alex Polizzi’s hotel in the picturesque and historic village of Alfriston, we are looking forward to returning for our second Kirker Music Festival at The Star in November. Our musicians are the well-established, awardwinning Marmen Quartet, and the clarinettist Robert Plane, equally at home playing with major orchestras and joining colleagues in chamber music concerts. The third and most recent addition to the Polizzi Collection of hotels, The Star is a superblymanaged and welcoming hotel under the guidance of Edward Johnson. Delicious cuisine is overseen by distinguished chef Tim Kensett and impeccable service is assured under the direction of Sergio Paolo. Music is at the core of our stay at The Star, with three concerts in the Old Chapel just across the road and two talks in the lovely Pilgrims’ Room in the hotel. There will also be time to explore the stunning Sussex coastline and the South Downs, with maps for Alex Polizzi’s favourite walks available at the hotel. Duncan Grant’s murals at Berwick Church and the Towner Gallery at Eastbourne with its collection of works by Eric Ravilious are also within a short drive.

Alfriston Clergy House

the hotel

We stay at the 4* Star Hotel, located on Alfriston’s famously picturesque high street with its selection of galleries and shops. Olga and Alex Polizzi unveiled their latest venture to enormous critical acclaim in the summer of 2021. Dating back to 1345, this was a historic hostelry on the route between Battle Abbey and Chichester, and its 15th century façade remains unchanged, as does the extravagantly beamed bar. Behind this, a charming, leafy courtyard now leads to 30 comfortable and stylish bedrooms, each combining new and antique furniture alongside works by local artists. We will dine each evening in the hotel’s elegant restaurant. There is no lift at The Star but staff are available to help you with your luggage. There is a gated private car park right behind the hotel.

MUSIC PROGRAMME

Concerts are given in The Old Chapel a few steps across from the hotel. Much careful restoration work has been done in recent years and the chapel is now an attractive and welcoming venue. The wooden interior and floor ensure there is a fine acoustic for chamber music. 7 November: Haydn: String Quartet in D, Op.33 No.6 Takemitsu: A Way A Lone Beethoven: String Quartet in E minor, Op .9, No.2 8 November: Mozart: String Quartet in B flat, K. 159 Stravinsky: Three Pieces for solo clarinet Bliss: Clarinet Quintet Debussy: String Quartet 9 November: Haydn: String Quartet in B flat, Op.64 No.3 Janacek: String Quartet No. 2 ‘Intimate Letters’ Brahms: String Quintet in F, Op.88

THE MUSICIANS

The Marmen Quartet was formed at the Royal College of Music in 2013 and were mentored by a number of leading players including Peter Cropper and Simon Rowland-Jones. The next six years were spent building up their career and in 2019 they won first prize at two of the world’s most important quartet competitions – in Banff and in Bordeaux. This led to a series of international engagements around the world including at the Berlin Philharmonie, the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, Lucerne, Dallas, and Austria and at the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon. During the first half of 2023 they will travel to Israel, Ireland, Croatia, Dallas and will give concerts at Wigmore Hall and at the 2023 North Norfolk Music Festival. Robert Plane, clarinet, was the Principal Clarinettist for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Previously he held this position with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. He now devotes more time to chamber music and has regularly appeared with leading ensembles, most notably the Gould Piano Trio. Rob has a particular love of British chamber music and will join the Marmen Quartet in a performance of one of his favourite pieces by Sir Arthur Bliss. Simon Rowland-Jones, viola, has always led a very busy, allembracing musical life. He was founder violist of the Chilingirian Quartet, in which he played for a total of ten years, and subsequently performed with many other leading chamber groups. He teaches viola and chamber music at the Royal College of Music and is codirector of the North Norfolk Music Festival.

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP 7 November £1,565 £360

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Three nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Three dinners • Three concerts as described with programme notes • The services of the Kirker Tour Leader