Centuries of music at gardens

A theatre in a Kent country garden will be the setting for a journey through 1,000 years of music this weekend. September is the final month of the season for Great Comp Gardens’ music festival, held in the Stable Theatre in the grounds of the 17th century manor and its picturesque garden.

Two local musicians perform on Saturday, September 2.

Rob Luft, an acoustic guitarist from Bitchet Green near Sevenoaks, will be joined by piano accordionist, Bartosz Glowacki When Worlds Collide.

Exploring the distinctive sound world of their combination of instruments, they will perform genres from Gregorian chant, baroque and romantic music to jazz, bossa nova and tango.

Still in his mid-20s, Rob is the winner of the Kenny Wheeler Music Prize and was named second in the 2016 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition.

Both Rob and Sophie Westbrooke, who performs at the festival on Saturday, September 23, attended Sevenoaks Prep School where their musical journey began with Elizabeth Dwinell of Borough Green. Sophie and Charlotte Barbour-condini, finalists in the BBC Young Musician competitions in 2014 and 2012 respectively, will be joined by Jamie Akers on lute to perform recorder music from medieval times to the present day on September 23.

Rob with Bartosz perform from 7.30pm on Saturday. For details visit greatcompmusic.org and for tickets go to thelittleboxoffice.com/gcfm

September is the final month of the season for Great Comp Gardens’ music festival