Festival of music promised in Caversham
A FESTIVAL of music is coming to Caversham next month, fusing solo performances with a chamber orchestra.
There will be five dates in the series of concerts, taking place around October half-term, and all organised by the Concerts in Caversham collective.
The first takes place on Friday, October 20, and sees classical guitarist Gerard Cousins perform.
The CinC Ensemble will give renditions of Schubert’s String Quintet in C major and Brahms String Sextet in Bb opus on Saturday, 21.
Organisers say these are two of the greatest pieces ever written for a small string ensemble, and the performers include members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
On Thursday, October 27, soprano Ana Beard Fernandez and pianist Adrienne Black will team up for a programme of opera highlights, German and French song and some lighter numbers.
The following evening, there will be a performance from harpist Catrin Finch and violinist Aoife Ni Bhrian. Organisers promise an evening of traditional and classical music with a twist.
The grand finale is on Monday, October 30, and sees two versions of the Four Seasons: Vivaldi’s and Piazolla’s. The music will be performed by the Concerts In Caversham Chamber Orchestra, with a solo from violinist Tamas Andras, the coleader of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
All concerts take place at St Andrew’s Church in Albert Road, except for the finale, which will be held at Queen Anne’s School.
In addition to the music, there will be an art exhibition featuring work from Clare Williams, an artist from North Wales.
Tickets are already on sale.
■ For more details, log on to: www.concertsincaversham.co.uk or call: 0118 948 3220.
Funbox Entertainment is to open in the space used by New Look before it shut in 2018, and latterly as a walk-in covid vaccination centre.
The arcade will have a restaurant. The firm has applied to Reading Borough Council for permission to sell alcohol and late night food between 10am and 10pm Sunday to Tuesday, 10am to 11pm on Wednesdays and 10am to midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
For food and refreshment, it has applied to sell late night food until midnight from Thursday to Sunday.
Comments can be made by emailing: licensing@reading. go.vuk – these are publicly available, with the deadline for responses being Thursday, October 5. Feedback could see a licensing meeting held to determine the application.
Funbox Entertainment is operated by Gravity Active Entertainment, which also owns the Gravity Global brand which runs e-karting, digital darts and virtual reality experiences.