After two years of reduced forces and online concerts, West Somerset’s unique annual week of first-class orchestral playing and chamber music is back at full strength. The Fifty-Ninth Season in this proud tradition begins at
Richard Dickins, the Festival’s Artistic Director for 35 years, writes “This year is a real celebration of the joy of live music-making which I hope will appeal to everyone.” Solo concertos provide a feast of string-playing, including, on Monday the 25th, Bach’s A minor concerto (soloist the much-loved violinist Maya Magub) and on Wednesday the Tchaikovsky violin concerto (featuring the young star, John Gallant). On Saturday, for the final orchestral concert, international guitarist Gary Ryan makes a welcome return to play Rodrigo’s exquisite Concierto de Aranjuez. All three orchestral concerts are at 7-30pm in the Regal Theatre (from which tickets are available).
Monday’s concert also features Mozart’s great final symphony (No 41 the Jupiter), and Wednesday’s presents the majestic 5th Symphony by Sibelius as well as a glorious Verdi overture.The grand finale on Saturday the 30th offers an opportunity to remember those we have lost during the pandemic by the inclusion of Britten’s moving Sinfonia da Requiem, a work that now has an added resonance through events in the Ukraine. The celebrative mood returns, however, with Stravinsky’s memorable and uplifting Firebird Ballet Suite.
On Thursday at 4pm in Minehead Methodist Church, the Festival Chamber Ensemble presents a delightful programme of wind music featuring three opera excerpts (containing tunes many may know!) and the Partita in E flat for oboes, clarinets and horns by Mozart’s talented protege, Johan Nepomuk Hummel. (Admission is free to both this concert and the Young Artists’ Recital)