Fressingfield Music Festival

One of the Best Events Worldwide

This year’s Fressingfield Music Festival was its seventh and sawa n umber of changes to what was on offer. The Festival continued to attract the best musicians in the world, an achievement recognised by Gramophone magazine which has twice listed the Festival as 'One of the best events worldwide'.

Elaine Delmar

Levon Chilingirian

Tuesday 27 September

Chilingirian String Quartet
Mozart, Ravel and Beethoven

The headline concert was the world famous Chilingirian String Quartet which has thrilled audiences internationally for nearly four decades. Its vast recording catalogue has been complemented by its regular radio broadcasts and concerts.

'Those indispensable pillars of British musical life, the Chilingirian Quartet' The Times

Wednesday 28 September

Timothy End, piano
Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven

Timothy End gave the Festival’s piano recital this year - a truly remarkable musician with flawless and sparkling technique described by the London Evening Standard as 'Someone to watch'.

 

Thursday 29 September

Vox Cantare
Choral music: Purcell, Elgar, Vaughan Williams

The third concert of the Festival was being given by Vox Cantare the new, cutting edge vocal ensemble conducted by Professor David Rowland. Formed for the best of the best, Vox Cantare has been credited by BBC Music Magazine as performing with 'Fresh Voices, precise pitching and chording.'

Friday 30 September

Elaine Delmar
with the Brian Dee Trio, an evening of jazz

Elaine Delmar and Brian Dee were back for the Friday night jazz slot after overwhelming demand from last year’s audience. Elaine and Brian are truly the best jazz musicians of their genre in this country. 'Among the multitude of good jazz singers in Britain today, there is not one who can surpass Elaine Delmar.' The Observer

 

Saturday 1 October

The Commonwealth Soloists Octet
Bach, Handel, Purcell, Dvorak

The closing concert was given by the Commonwealth Soloists Octet, a brand new but already established group performed, amongst other works, Bach’s second Brandenburg Concerto in a unique and stunning arrangement.

'Wonderful, engaging, exuberant, immediate dancing along.' The Daily Telegraph

***********************************************

For much more information visit www.fressingfieldmusic.com

Looking back at the 2010 Fressingfield Music Festival

Tasmin Little and schoolchildren, Fressingfield Music Festival 2010’s Education Day. Picture courtesy of Diss Express

All five of the concerts, which were held in the parish church of St Peter and St Paul, were extremely well received, with counter-tenor David Sheppard’s crystal-clear voice (in Badinage’s baroque concert) providing a fascinating juxtaposition to the depth and timbre of jazz legend Elaine Delmar’s soulful renditions on the Friday night. Cordelia Williams charmed audiences with her piano recital and The Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge returned to the Festival with a flawless performance, this time with Handel’s Messiah.

A fitting end to the event was provided by the Fressingfield Singers at evensong on Sunday.

The Festival committee would like to reiterate thanks to the army of generous volunteers who helped to stage the Festival. Not least, thanks go to Keith and Ann Lawson who have now retired from the committee having worked tirelessly on it since it was established.

In addition to entertaining the community and raising funds towards the Church’s musical offering, the Festival attracts many visitors to the village. A donation of £2,500 is being made to the fund for restoration of the Father Willis Organ.

 

Clockwise from l to r: Tasmin Little and John Lenehan, Cordelia Williams, Elaine Delmar and John Kelsall, The Choir of Christ’s College,Cambridge