Concerts & events archive 2004

Sunday 21 November 2004
Choral Evensong
Choir of St Bride's, Robert Jones director, Reverend Canon David Meara Rector of St Bride's

Taking their cue from the Borodin Quartet's opening concert at the Festival, the Choir of St Bride's offer music in the Russian tradition for their Festal Evensong on the eve of St Cecilia's day.

Tavener - Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis: Collegium Regale
Rachmaninov - Excerpts from the Vespers

Sunday 21 November 2004
Borodin Quartet
Borodin Quartet
Ruben Aharonian violin, Andrei Abramenkov violin, Igor Naidin viola, Valentin Berlinsky cello

Making their début appearance at the Festival is the celebrated Borodin Quartet - unquestionably one of the world's great music ensembles. Founded in 1945 the Borodin is the longest-lived string quartet, with an unparalleled reputation and history. Hear them perform music from their native Russia.

Borodin - Quartet no.2 in A minor
Shostakovich - Quartet no.10 A flat
Shostakovich - Quartet no.8 in C minor

Monday 22 November 2004
St Cecilia's Day
Wieland Kuijken viola da gamba, Philippe Foulon viola da gamba, Alberto Martínez Molina hapsichord

Legendary Belgian viola da gamba player Wieland Kuijken evokes the elegant world of the French baroque with colleagues from Spain and France. Sonorous music for two violas da gamba by Marin Marais (whose music found fame in the 1993 film Tous les Matins du Monde) is at the heart of this sumptuous programme.

Marin Marais - Suite in G from '1^er livre de pièces de violes'
Forqueray - La Régente, La Du Vaucel, La Morangis
L Couperin - Suite in F from the Bauyn Manuscript
F Couperin - Suite in A minor from 'Pièces de violes avec la basse chifrée'

Tuesday 23 November 2004
Wieland Kuijken
Wieland Kuijken viola da gamba

The distinguished viola da gamba player Wieland Kuijken shares his knowledge with players of the younger generation.

Tuesday 23 November 2004
Boston Camerata
Joël Cohen director

Known across the globe for their vivid re-creations of the mediæval musical world, the Boston Camerata make their London public début at this year's Festival.

Directed by Joël Cohen and featuring internationally renowned soprano Anne Azéma, alongside an array of singers and mediæval instruments, the Boston Camerata present the racy mediæval satire Le Roman de Fauvel.

The Roman - high-octane 14th-century poetry and music - throws a spotlight on abuses in contemporary political and religious life. Fauvel, its anti-hero, is a fawn-coloured stallion (whose name derives from the initial letters - in mediæval French - of the cardinal sins, arguably as much alive today as they were in mediæval France!

Gervais de Bus - Roman de Fauvel

Wednesday 24 November 2004
Bach Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin
Monica Huggett baroque violin

Monica Huggett has an international reputation as one of the foremost baroque violinists of our time. Her complete Bach unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas disc for Virgin Classics is now a landmark recording. Hear her playing this wonderful repertoire live in the intimate acoustic of the Stationers' Hall.

"With these impressive performances Monica Huggett sweeps baroque interpretations off the board." Lionel Salter

Bach - Partita no.3 in E major
Bach - Sonata no.2 in A minor
Bach - Partita no.2 in D minor

Thursday 25 November 2004
José-María Gallardo del Rey with Fiori Musicali
José-María Gallardo del Rey guitar, Katy Bircher flute, Fiori Musicali chamber orchestra, Penelope Rapson director

Last time celebrated Spanish guitarist José-María Gallardo del Rey visited the Festival there was standing room only. Back by popular request, del Rey joins the festival's resident period instrument orchestra Fiori Musicali in his own arrangements of sparkling concertos by CPE Bach.

This programme offers a snapshot of musical life in Berlin in the late 18th century, as might have been encountered by a visiting Spanish guitar virtuoso. A feast of dazzling concertos.

"...the guitar is fortunate to have such great interpreters. Segovia is one, José-María is another " Guitar International, London

Quantz - Flute Concerto in G
CPE Bach - Concerto in A (Wq.172/H439) arranged del Rey for Spanish guitar
Benda - Flute Concerto in E minor
CPE Bach - Concerto in A minor (Wq.170/H432) arranged del Rey for Spanish guitar

Friday 26 November 2004
London Serenade
Colin Lawson director

Principal players of London's leading period instrument orchestras, London Serenade are specialists in historically informed performance, and distinguished soloists in their own right

They play wind serenades and divertimenti from the late 18th and early 19th centuries - glorious, genial chamber music originally written for the delight of the aristocracy of central Europe.

Mozart - Serenade in E flat K375
JC Bach - Sinfonia in B flat
Beethoven - Sextet in E flat op.71

Saturday 27 November 2004
Tutored Wine Tasting - Red & White Burgundy
Andrew Caslin tutor

The most prestigious vineyards in France lie on the picturesque slopes of Burgundy. Andrew Caslin, wine buyer for City vintners Lay & Wheeler, takes wine lovers on a voyage of discovery, exploring an impressive selection of both red and white Burgundies.

A tutored wine tasting for both connoisseur and amateur alike.

Saturday 27 November 2004
The St Cecilia Lecture - Music Magic & Mathematics
David Acheson lecturer

A lighthearted and entertaining talk on the related worlds of Music, Magic and Maths. Popular maths writer David Acheson, fellow in mathematics at Jesus College Oxford and author of the best selling 1089 and All That, argues that anyone can enjoy some of the most surprising and beautiful ideas of mathematics - particularly if they enjoy good music!

Saturday 27 November 2004
Fiori Musicali
Penelope Rapson director with James Bowman countertenor and Pamela Thorby recorder

One of the world's most distinguished countertenors, the inimitable James Bowman, joins Fiori Musicali for Vivaldi's mellifluous Stabat Mater.

This all-Vivaldi extravaganza also features Pamela Thorby - fleet-fingered recorder player of the Palladian Ensemble - in spellbinding concertos by the red-headed priest of Venice.

Vivaldi - Chamber concerto in G minor RV105
Vivaldi - Filiae Maestae Jerusalem RV638
Vivaldi - Recorder concerto in C Minor
Vivaldi - Stabat Mater