SINCE 1999 A LIVE REVIEW SITE FOR OPERA, BALLET, CONCERTS, BROADCASTS, AND THEATRE
Cheltenham Music Festival 2024 from 6 July to 13 July
Click here for the Festival website and full details
Cheltenham Music Festival has announced a sparkling line-up for its seventy-ninth year, the Festival will host some of the most exciting names of today’s classical music world.
The programme builds on the Festival’s longstanding reputation as one of the UK’s premier platforms for new work, alongside a plethora of older gems both to be found and rediscovered.
United Kingdom 150th Birthday Concert – Vaughan Williams, Imogen Holst, Rebecca Clarke: James Gilchrist (tenor), Quentin Hayes (baritone), The Carducci Quartet, James Wilshire (piano), David Ayre (double bass), Cheltenham Chamber Choir / Ben Sawyer (conductor). Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham, 12.10.2022. (JQ)
United Kingdom Three Choirs Festival [10] – Various composers: Roderick Williams (baritone), Susie Allan (piano), Cheltenham College Theatre, Cheltenham, 1.8.2019. (JQ)
The Art of Love: Alma Mahler’s Life and Music: Zemlinsky, Alma Mahler, Gustav Mahler, Anton von Webern, D. Matthews. Arranged by David Matthews (‘Erntelied’ co-arranged with Colin Matthews), with linking texts by Barry Millington. Rozanna Madylus (mezzo-soprano). Counterpoise ensemble: Fenella Humphreys (violin), Deborah Calland (trumpet), Kyle Horch (saxophone/clarinet), Iain Farrington (piano).
Kokoschka’s Doll: John Casken (composer), Sir John Tomlinson (bass), Counterpoise ensemble (as above), text by John Casken and Barry Millington. Cheltenham Music Festival, 9.7.2017.
United Kingdom Bach, Schubert, Holst, Beethoven: The Bochmann Trio [Michael Bochmann (violin), Carol Hubel-Allen (viola), David Powell (‘cello)], Thirlestaine Gallery, Cheltenham, 28.10.2016. (RJ)
United Kingdom Ravel, Michael Berkeley, Colin Matthews, Poulenc,Lennox Berkeley: The Berkeley Ensemble, The Marian Consort / David Wordsworth (conductor), Cheltenham Music Festival, Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, 17.7.2016. (RJ)
The Berkeley Ensemble [Luke Russell (flute), Emily Cockbill (oboe), John Slack (clarinet, bass clarinet), Andrew Watson (bassoon), Paul Cott (horn), Fontane Liang (harp), Jolwey Cragg (percussion), Sophie Mather (violin), Francesca Barritt (violin), Matthew Kettle (viola), Gemma Wareham (cello), Lachland Radford (double bass)]
The Marian Consort [Emma Walshe (soprano), Gwendolen Martin (soprano), Rory McCleery (countertenor and director), Benedict Hymas (tenor), Joh Stainsby (baritone), Nick Ashby (bass)]
United Kingdom Sally Beamish: Red Note Ensemble [Ruth Morley (flute), Marie Lloyd (clarinet), Jacqueline Shave (violin0, Robert Irvine (cello) Tom Hunter (percussion), Huw Watkins (piano), Crawford Logan (actor), Cheltenham Music Festival, Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham, 16.7.2016. (RJ)
Keyboard Mania Engulfs Cheltenham
If Cheltenham has taken on a somewhat Surrealistic aspect over the past week, blame it on that musical eccentric Erik Satie born 150 years ago. As you stroll around the town you come across a number of piano-like or piano related objects ranging from painted pianos, pianos planted with flowers, a tubular bell piano, a fruit machine synthesiser and even aircraft landing gear sporting a keyboard. There’s also an electro-mechanical lithophone, but please don’t ask me to describe it or how it works.