The North Norfolk Music Festival

A FOUR NIGHT HOLIDAY | 15 AUGUST 2023

The North Norfolk Music Festival reaches its 19th year in 2023. It was founded by Kirker’s very own Barry Cheeseman and Simon Rowland-Jones, viola player, composer, teacher and Kirker’s Director of Music. Concerts are held in the beautiful 13th century Church of Our Lady St. Mary in the peaceful village of South Creake, just five miles from the coast. We stay at Briarfields Hotel in Titchwell with wonderful views out across the marshes to the sea and include visits to three of Norfolk’s most important houses – Holkham, Houghton and Raynham.

the itinerary

Please make your own way to the Briarsfield Hotel in Titchwell. Clients travelling by train should go to King’s Lynn station and continue by taxi (fare is approximately £50 each way), or use the Coast Hopper Bus which is timed to meet the train from London and stops immediately outside the station in King’s Lynn and outside the hotel in Titchwell.

We set off for Holkham Hall, the seat of The Earl and Countess of Leicester, a magnificent Palladian-style house set in a glorious park not far from the sea, designed for the first Earl in the 1750s. There will be a guided tour of the house and a light lunch before we visit a private garden set romantically in the parkland at Holkham Hall. Our host will serve us some refreshments before we return to Titchwell.

We drive to Raynham Hall, the seat of Marquess and Marchioness Townshend, for a private visit. The family have lived here for more than 400 years. William Kent worked at Raynham between 1725 and 1732 and much of his finest work can be seen here in the house’s sumptuous and ornate interiors. We will stay on after the visit for a light lunch.

Today we visit Houghton Hall, the seat of the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Marquess of Cholmondeley. We will enjoy a private tour here followed by some free time in the glorious rose gardens created and designed by the Marquess in memory of his grandmother, Sybil Sassoon whose fortune saved Houghton from ruin. A picnic supper of light savoury and sweet dishes will be served with wine in the festival’s marquee next to the church this evening.

DAY

The tour ends today. Taxis for your journey back to King’s Lynn should be pre-booked with the tour leader.

Church of Our Lady St. Mary, South Creake

MUSIC PROGRAMME

15 August: Louis Schwizgebel, piano Leoš Janácek’s In the Mists Beethoven: Sonata Op.110 Debussy: Souvenir du Louvre and I’sles joyeuse

16 August: Marmen String Quartet Works by Haydn and Beethoven

17 August: Alim Beisembayev, piano. Works by Schubert, Chopin and John Adams Alim was First Prize Winner at the 2021 Leeds International Piano Competition.

18 August, 16.30: Tim Horton, piano Works by Chopin, Haydn and Ravel’s monumental Gaspar la Nuit

18 August, 19.00: Ensemble 360 Six members of the leading chamber ensemble including Tim Horton, Gemma Rosefield, Benjamin Nabarro and colleagues will bring the 2023 NNMF to as rousing finale which includes performances of Cesar Franck’s Piano Quintet and Mozart’s Clainet Quintet.

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE 15 August £1,494

NO SINGLE SUPP.

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Two dinners at the hotel and one picnic supper at the Festival

Marquee • Two lunches • Tickets for all concerts as described (seats in the church are unreserved but cushions will be provided) • A programme for all concerts • Services of the Kirker Tour Leader