We are sorry to have to advise that because of the COVID-19 situation Leamington have had to cancel their festival this year. They hope to be able to arrange a weekend of music in late September and we will let you know as soon as this happens.
The Leamington Music Festival dates back to 1990 and has a special interest in Czech music and musicians, since it is 80 years since the Czech Free Army came to Leamington during World War Two and were then based in the town from 1940-42. This year, to mark Beethoven's 250th anniversary, the programme will include major works by Beethoven as well as some lesser-known pieces by him and other composers whom he met and knew in his lifetime. Some of these were from what became Czechoslovakia as well as other Czech music, plus some visiting Czech musicians to continue our links.
Tasmin Little returns for one of her last concerts before she retires in the summer, and her accompanist Andrey Gugnin also has a solo recital to play Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata and Mussorgsky's ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’. Raphael Wallfisch also returns with the Shahem Erez Wallfisch Trio to include the ‘Archduke’. The Emperor Concerto is programmed in the opening concert to be played by Tom Poster with the Sacconi Quartet plus double bass.
The Czech element in the Festival is in the hands of Veronika Klírová, flautist in the CBSO and the Kinsky Piano Trio. Horn player Ben Goldscheider and pianist Richard Uttley give one of the four lunchtime concerts.
This will be our first visit and we will stay at the Premier Inn Leamington Town Centre, situated on Regency Terrace in the heart of the town and a short walk to all of the concert venues. You can make your own way to Leamington or we will offer a coach transfer from the usual Northwest pick up points.
If you want to explore a little then the centre of Warwick is less than 20 minutes away by bus and Startford Upon Avon can be reached in 35 minutes by train but we feel sure that the programme will have enough interesting events to keep you firmly in Leamington!
Full concert and event details are shown below:
Friday 1 May
7.30pm Sacconi String Quartet with Tom Poster piano and Andrew Marshall double bass
SACCONI STRING QUARTET Ben Hancox and Hannah Dawson violins, Robin Ashwell viola, Cara Berridge cello
- Beethoven Piano Sonata in E minor Op 90
- Beethoven String Quartet in B flat Op 18 No 6
- Beethoven arr. Lachner Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat Op 73 ‘Emperor’
Saturday 2 May
12 noon Veronika Klírová flute and Ben Dawson piano
- Schulhoff Flute Sonata
- Martin Červenka Suite for Flute and Piano ‘Obrazy’
- Martinů Flute Sonata No 1 H306
- Hummel Flute Sonata in A Op 64
2 30 Dvořák Society AGM
4.00 Talk by Peter Herbert: Anthony Philip Heinrich, the American Beethoven (born Anton Philipp Heinrich in Bohemia 1781, he led an extraordinary life dying in poverty in New York in 1861).
7.30 Andrey Gugnin piano - Winner of the 2016 Sydney International Competition
- Beethoven Piano Sonata in B flat Op 106 'Hammerklavier'
- Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
Andrey's recently released CD of works by Shostakovich achieved universal critical acclaim - "Gugnin possesses an extraordinarily versatile and agile technique, which serves an often inspired musical imagination." (Gramophone Magazine).
Sunday 3 May
12 noon Ben Goldscheider horn and Richard Uttley piano
- Cherubini Horn Sonata No 2 in F
- Beethoven Horn Sonata in F Op 17
- Schulhoff Selection from Esquisses de jazz WV90
- Rosetti Allegro and Romance from Horn Concerto in E flat C48
- Schumann Adagio and Allegro in A flat Op 70
Aged only 21, Ben Goldscheider is a name to watch. He won the Brass Category and was a Concerto Finalist of the BBC Young Musician Competition in 2016, since then he has made his BBC Proms debut as well as concerto performances all over Europe. Richard Uttley won the British Contemporary Piano Competition in 2006; he has since released several recordings to critical acclaim and performed as recitalist and concerto soloist throughout the UK, Europe, Canada, and China.
2.30 Warwickshire Music Annual Concert
Celebrating Beethoven's 250th birthday with works by the great composer and his contemporaries. A platform to showcase the cream of Warwickshire Music’s students from across the county, performing works that complement the Festival’s programmes and themes.
7.30 Piano Trio Shahem Erez Wallfisch
Hagai Shaham violin
Arnon Erez piano
Raphael Wallfisch cello
- Haydn Trio in C
- Beethoven Allegretto in B flat WoO 39
- Beethoven Variations on 'Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu' Op 121a
- Beethoven Trio in B Flat Op 97 'Archduke'
Monday 4 May
11.00 Francesca Massey Organ Recital at All Saints Church
- Mozart Fantasia in F minor K608
- Haydn Pieces for a Musical Clock
- Boulanger Trois Pièces
- Sylvie Bodorová Emek ha-bacha
- Judith Weir Wild Mossy Mountains
- Arvo Pärt Trivium
- Eben Moto Ostinato from Sunday Music
12.30 Kinsky Piano Trio
- Vranický Trio in G Op 32 No 1
- Beethoven Trio in C minor Op 1 No 3
- Fibich Trio in F minor
7.30 Tasmin Little violin and Andrey Gugnin piano
Beethoven Violin Sonata in F Op 24 ‘Spring’
Brahms Violin Sonata in D minor Op 108
Arvo Pärt Fratres
Beethoven Violin Sonata in A Op 47 ‘Kreutzer’
Tuesday 5 May
12 noon Ensemble 360
Matthew Hunt clarinet
Gemma Rosefield cello
Tim Horton piano
- Weber Grand Duo Concertant Op 48
- Beethoven Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”
- Rossini Introduction, Theme & Variations
- Beethoven Trio Op 11 ‘Gassenhauer’
Please note we will depart after lunch on the 5th May by coach back to the Northwest so will miss the final concert this evening.
Deposit £250 per person and the balance will be due 20th March.
