Concerts & events archive 2005

Tuesday 22 November 2005
St Cecilia's Day
Nikolai Demidenko piano

Demidenko cuts a strikingly Russian figure on the concert platform. 'He has an extraordinary intimacy with the piano', writes Gerald Larner in The Times, 'which withholds no secrets of keyboard brilliance or expressive colouring....'

Making his first appearance at the Festival, Demidenko plays masterworks by Schubert and Beethoven.

"...a miracle of mercurial fingerwork and imaginative finesse". Hilary Finch, The Times, October 2001

Beethoven - Sonata in E major Op.109
Beethoven - Sonata in A flat major Op.110
Schubert - Sonata in B flat major D960

Wednesday 23 November 2005
Bekova Trio
Eleonora Bekova piano, Elvira Bekova violin, Alfia Bekova cello

The Bekova sisters from Kazakhstan are acclaimed wherever they play. "Intensely musical...a first class ensemble", wrote Sir Georg Solti.

This popular trio return to the Festival to play outstanding piano trios by Brahms and Dvorák.

"The performers really respond to this music and give urgent, vividly brilliant readings". International Record Review

Brahms - Piano Trio op.8 in B major
Dvorák - Dumki Trio op.90

Thursday 24 November 2005
Fiori Musicali Chamber Orchestra
Colin Lawson basset clarinet, Kerstin Linder-Dewan violin, Penelope Rapson director

Fiori Musicali - orchestra in residence at the festival - bring alive the drama and passion of 18th-century music.

Playing on authentic instruments, their Bohemian-inspired programme includes the London première of Benda's 1740 violin concerto, and Mozart's great clarinet concerto - first performed in Prague in 1791 - for which they are joined by distinguished clarinettist Colin Lawson.

"Eloquently performed...a sheer delight". Robin Stowell, The Strad.

Wanczura - Symphony no.2 The Russian
Benda - Violin Concerto in D
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A K622

Friday 25 November 2005
Skampa String Quartet
Pavel Fischer violin, Jana Lukásová violin, Radin Sedmidubský viola, Lukas Polak cello

In 1989 the Velvet Revolution gave the newly formed Skampa Quartet a first taste of freedom to tour abroad to Europe, the United States and the Far East - where they have been invited to return ever since.

We are delighted to welcome this celebrated quartet back to the Festival.

"The Skampas play as one - chamber music as it should be". The Observer, January 2004

Mozart - Prussian Quartet in B flat K589
Ravel - String Quartet
Janácek - String Quartet no.2 'Intimate Letters'

Saturday 26 November 2005
St Cecilia Lecture
The Underground University - or the struggle for cultural survival before and after the assassination of Ceausescu.
Jessica Douglas-Home

Jessica Douglas-Home reveals something of the secret life behind the Iron Curtain in the last years of Communism, when she carried books, materials and hope to the dissident communities in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania. (It was her husband, Charles Douglas-Home, later editor of The Times, who first alerted the West to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.)

She reflects on the issues of culture, religion and national loyalty in the old Eastern bloc countries and looks, a little quizzically, at the influences assailing them now.

Saturday 26 November 2005
Fiori Musicali Choir
His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts
Penelope Rapson, Jeremy West directors

One of the most highly regarded of Bohemian renaissance composers, Turnovský remains as yet undiscovered by British audiences. Given the consummate mastery of his most famous work, the mass on Jerusalem cito veniet, it is no wonder Turnovský acquired the sobriquet the 'Bohemian Palestrina'!

Fiori Musicali's choir are joined by the splendid His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts.

"Spirited...with crisp punchy orchestra and chorus. BBC Music Magazine

Turnovský - Missa super Jerusalem cito veniet
Turnovský - Vstalt' jest z mrtvých Kristus Pán
Palestrina - Missa Papae Marcelli

Sunday 27 November
Choral Eucharist
St Bride's Choir, Robert Jones director

In the 1680s and 90s St Cecilia's Day was celebrated at St Bride's, Fleet Street with a special choral service, after which the congregation strolled up Ludgate Hill for further music and then banqueting at Stationers' Hall.

Continuing the historic ties, a procession will leave St Bride's at the end of this traditional language festal Eucharist, and wend its way up to the Hall for a champagne brunch.

Bruckner - Virga Jesse
Bruckner - Tantum Ergo
Haydn - St Nicholas Mass

Sunday 27 November 2005
Concert & Champagne Brunch
Kalman Magyar and his Carpathian Folk Band

Pop the corks at the end of the 2005 Festival as internationally acclaimed traditional Hungarian violin player Kalman Magyar and his Carpathian folk band bring to life the traditional music of Eastern Europe.

Blending passionate virtuosity with soulful melancholy, Magyar takes gypsy entertainment to the heart of London, as festival-goers enjoy Sunday champagne brunch.

'This outrageous...talent - already recognized as one of North America's finest Hungarian folk musicians'