Welcome

“In the hands of these virtuosi, this music could not help but dance, fly and rejoice… it was a divine evening of music making.” Music and Vision

Daniel Tong. Photo: Benjamin Harte

Welcome to the third Winchester Chamber Music Festival. The London Bridge Ensemble has been busy preparing another packed weekend of events and we are delighted to welcome two guest artists, clarinettist Robert Plane and Kate’s sister, violinist Lucy Gould.

There are several developments for the coming Festival, including a late night performance of the great Clarinet Quintet by Brahms on Saturday 24th in a new venue, the intimate and atmospheric St Lawrence Church. All other events take place at the Discovery Centre, our comfortable and welcoming home where we enjoyed such a successful first year in 2009. There will be an evening concert on Friday 23rd followed by a fresh format on the Saturday, incorporating a morning concert, afternoon masterclass, evening concert and late night event as described above. The Festival will end on Sunday afternoon with a programme including Fauré’s masterful cycle for voice and piano quintet, La Bonne Chanson, and another work by Brahms; the Piano Quintet on which the composer worked for a number of years before delivering it in its great final version. Other music to look forward to include pieces by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann, as well as folk-inspired works by Bartók and Martinů. There’s also a small exhibition to complement the main musical programme. Festival programme

Kate Gould

Alongside our concert performances there are a number of community and education events, involving school children and students. Sam Glazer and Jack Ross will again be working in local primary schools prior to the Festival, and there is a chance to hear the final performance (which was so special and inspiring last year) on the Friday lunchtime. Our Saturday masterclass offers a chance for more advanced performers to present works to members of the Ensemble, and Sam also leads a family event on Sunday morning to which both parents and children are welcome. Outreach

We are delighted to have teamed up with the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust, allowing us to offer free concert tickets to children and students. First come, first served, so hurry to take up this wonderful chance for kids to experience live chamber music, close at hand, from some of the country’s leading artists. Young people’s tickets

Another exciting new development is our Festival club for wining and dining in pleasant and relaxed surroundings. Festival Club

Our heartfelt thanks to all of our supporters and volunteers who help to keep the Festival alive. Making an event like this happen involves an incredible amount of hard work and generosity, especially in the current financial climate. We are therefore particularly delighted with the initial response to the launch of our Friends scheme at our fundraising concert in October 2009. It was also extremely gratifying to see so many people in the audience, supporting their Festival and showing an appetite for high quality chamber music in Winchester. Support us

Daniel Tong and Kate Gould, Festival co-directors