Corbridge is set to host its popular annual chamber music festival later this month.
The Corbridge Chamber Music Festival is directed by the Gould Piano Trio and clarinettist Robert Plane. It was founded in 1999 when Robert Plane and Lucy Gould were living in Corbridge during Rob's time as principal clarinet of Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Despite moving to Cardiff in 2000 they have continued to put on a festival every year since (including online during Covid) and it has grown into a major event in the North East's classical music calendar, bringing top class guests to join the Artistic Directors in four action packed days of concerts, with events at all times of the day.
Robert Plane said: "Despite this being the 26th time that we’ve programmed this very special event, we’re confident that we’ve been able to put together a festival full of new discoveries and ‘festival firsts’, as well of course as revisiting some old favourites from the past.
"Perhaps the most striking new experience is the inclusion of the bandoneon in our lineup of guests. Virtuoso, Grammy-nominated, Argentinian composer/performer JP Jofre will give us an exhilarating introduction to this intriguing instrument in our ‘Nuevo Tango’ concert.
"Be prepared to be transported to the sultry, seductive tango halls of Buenos Aires in what promises to be a unique collaboration. And who else to ask to join us in Schoenberg’s groundbreaking Pierrot Lunaire, in the composer’s 150th anniversary year, than soprano Claire Booth, a world-renowned interpreter of this seminal work.
"Claire has curated a fascinating programme which explores the various facets of Pierrot and his commedia dell’arte companions Columbine and Harlequin, taking in works by Schumann, Debussy and Rebecca Clarke before unveiling Schoenberg’s visionary and timeless masterpiece. Pierrot makes an appearance in our Festival Finale too, in Scottish composer Thea Musgrave’s dramatically vivid work.
"Our other guests are drawn from the highest echelons of the chamber music world, with Maja Horvat, Edvard Pogossian, Enno Senft and Juliette Bausor all making their Corbridge Festival debuts.
"As well as our concerts here in St. Andrew’s Church we have two events at Corbridge Parish Hall. Saturday night 9pm sees us reprising our hugely popular ‘cafe-style’ concert, this year focusing on short, characterful musical items from the Americas all performed in a relaxed environment.
"And we also see the return of the Come and Play Corbridge Festival Orchestra, this year expanded to take in Haydn’s exhilarating Symphony No.99. This is a chance for members of the local community, of all ages, to play alongside the Corbridge Festival professionals, under the expert guidance of Gould Trio cellist Richard Lester. JP will also perform as soloist in one of his own works."
The festival runs from July 25 to July 28.
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