Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
From Gilbert O’sullivan to Mozart
The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, plays host to some big names and sounds during the festival, including Gilbert O’sullivan, who is performing on October 19.
Stopping for just one night, O’sullivan and his band bring an eclectic mix of 70s chart hits like Alone Again, Clair and Get Down and music from his new album.
The Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra is set to grace the same stage on October 16, with talented violinist Jennifer Pike, winner of the BBC Young Musician award in 2002 at just 12 years old, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.
Alongside this incredibly technical and recognised work, the orchestra will also perform Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and Tchaikovsky’s celebrated Fifth Symphony.
The Marlowe will also open its doors to a night of Irish music with Frankie Gavin and De Dannan on October 20. Gavin has played with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Yehudi Menhuin and even has a world record as the fastest fiddle player in the world by hitting 150 beats per minute while playing The Fox Hunter’s Reel.
Alongside his five-piece band, De Dannan, Gavin’s music is infused with gypsy jazz, contemporary pop and furious jigs.
The magnificent surroundings of Canterbury Cathedral will be the backdrop to some of the more classically focused artists of the Festival.
Stile Antico’s harmonies will fill the air on October 22 with a programme that marks Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary.
They will perform a selection of music connected to his life, including brand new settings of his poetry by Nico Muhly and Huw Watkins, commissioned especially for the group.
The Canterbury Choral Society will also take to the Cathedral Nave to perform Haydn’s The Creation on November 5.
For something a little more intimate, Will Todd’s expressive and jazzinfused music will be performed in the Cathedral Crypt on November 4. He will be joined by St Martin’s Voices, the Will Todd Ensemble, jazz legend Tina May and the Canterbury Christ Church University Chamber Choir.
Todd uses local students from the Canterbury Christ Church University Chamber Choir in the second half of the performance for a rendition of his most celebrated work, Mass in Blue.
A stone’s throw from the cathedral, in Shirley Hall, the classical music continues with seasoned professionals gracing its stage.
Internationally renowned pianist Barry Douglas will perform a programme of Schubert and Brahms on October 26. Endellion String Quartet, now in its 37th season, will perform Mozart’s The Hunt, Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No 6 and Voces Intimae by Sibelius. There is also a performance of Bach to Beatles by Miloš Karadaglic and the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble on October 28. The Spiegeltent – which has moved to Kingsmead for the Festival – will play host to a variety of music from across the globe. On October 29 Paprika are set to provide a sizzling show full of Balkan and traditional gypsy music to get audiences out of their seats and tapping their feet.
For something a little more laid back, both Southern Tenant Folk Union (October 30) and new supergroup Orphan Colours (October 28) will perform their Americana-inspired tracks.
Orphan Colours are a five-piece comprising Noah and the Whale lead guitarist Fred Abbott, Danny and the Champions drummer Steve Brooks, bass player Graham Knight and Ahab singer Dave Burn on vocals and guitar. They are strongly influenced by the likes of Tom Petty, Ryan Adams and Bon Iver, ensuring a performance that oscillates between bluegrass, alternative and country genres.
Perhaps the biggest influence of 60s soul is the musical legend Geno Washington, who will be closing the Festival on November 5.
Performing with the Yoyo’s, Washington will inject some soul into your life, delivering a set of blues and R&B classics to have audiences up and dancing. Stay on after Washington to say farewell to the Spiegeltent, with the house DJ spinning some “seriously funky tunes”.
There are also a range of lunchtime concerts by local performers at the Spiegeltent, including music from Canterbury College, Canterbury Christ Church University and local artists Brendan Power and Richard Navarro. For full listings please visit www. canterburyfestival.co.uk or pick up a brochure from the
festival office.