This year will mark our 4th visit to the unique North York Moors Chamber Music Festival - remarkable not only for the outstanding standard of musicianship and performance but especially the unique leadership, enthusiasm and inspiration of festival Founder and Curator, Jamie Walton. Jamie was one of the few folk on the planet to achieve (against all odds) live performances WITH audience in the summer of 2020 (no less than 10 of them!). This year, the 16th season of the Festival, has the theme of ECHOS. We visit during the second week of the festival and attend five concerts (including the grand finale) during our four night stay. The concert details are shown below.
Once again, we have taken over the excellent White Swan Inn for our four night stay. The hotel is situated in the heart of the historic market town of Pickering and the ideal base for our concerts and sightseeing over the coming days. The hotel is an historic 'golden stone' Inn. Vintage rooms in the main building are reached by stairs (1st and 2nd floors) but luggage will be taken to and from your room for you. In the courtyard at the rear of the hotel are 8 'Hideaway' rooms all with step-free access and walk-in showers. Please specify your choice of room type when booking.
St Peter and St Paul's Church, Pickering contains one of the most complete sets of medieval wall paintings in Britain and the town is also home to the North York Moors Historic Railway.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we will have included visits to the market town of Helmsley, the remains and wonderful setting of Rievaulx Abbey, the historic home of the Dukes of Norfolk, Castle Howard, and a full programme of sightseeing to some of the delightful villages and estates of the area.
We will dine at the hotel on two evenings, in Helmsley on one evening and 'at the seaside' on one evening - all meals include wines and soft drinks.
Feeder coach pick-ups from our usual Northwest and Fylde pick up points and Malton Station (closest mainline station to Pickering).
Please Note: This year our final performance is on Saturday afternoon at 2pm. If you are making your own travel arrangements we suggest a departure from Malton after 430pm (currently 512pm to York and onwards) if you wish to use the coach transfer.
To Book please click the 'Book This Tour' button above right. Our team will then confirm your place and send you a secure payment link for the deposit of £400 per person. The final balance is due 15th June.
You can experience Jamie's passion and determination during the challenges of 2020 in this Gramophone article:
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/blogs/article/why-i-refuse-to-accept-the-current-state-of-non-play
And watch his performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto on the North York Moors!
https://youtu.be/0rNIohqHJwE
Concert details:
Tuesday 20th August - 7pm Marquee, Welburn La Belle Époque
Debussy – Violin sonata in G minor
Fauré - La Bonne Chanson op 61*
Chausson – Chanson perpétuelle op 37
Chausson – ‘Concert’ for violin, piano and string quartet op 21
Wednesday 21st August - 7pm Marquee, Welburn A Wartime Story
Bridge - Lament
Elgar – Sonata for violin and piano in E minor op 82*
Debussy – Berceuse héroïque
Ravel – Piano trio in A minor
Thursday 22nd August - 2pm St Hedda’s, Egton Bridge Jubilation
Brahms – String quintet no 2 in G major op 111
Mendelssohn – String octet in E flat major op 20
Friday 23rd August - 7pm Marquee, Welburn Ghosts of History
Beethoven – Piano trio op 70 no 1 in D major (‘Ghost’)
Saariaho - Light and Matter
Matteis – Fantasia for violin in A minor*
Elgar - Piano quintet in A minor op 84
Saturday 24th August - 2pm Marquee, Welburn A New Dawn
Schumann – Gesänge der Frühe op 133
Schubert – Adagio e Rondo Concertante D487*
Schumann - Piano quartet in E flat major op 4
A note about Welburn Marquee - the pandemic of 2020 and last minute restrictions on performance venues gave rise to one of the unique aspects of the Festival - the Marquee at Welburn Manor Estate. Open sided on pleasant evenings, the solid wood floor and custom designed back boards create an excellent soundscape for chamber music - so much so that it has now become a permanent fixture of the festival.
