Ruthven Festival’s innovation and expertise delights yet again

Programme selection with imagination and expertise should be the catchphrase of the Ruthven Festival, writes Garry Fraser.

Now in its 28th year it is still providing a vast variety of music, a conveyor-belt of fine musicians and an intimacy and informal approach that some other festivals might try to emulate but never quite succeed.

This weekend’s innovative mix of woodwind ensemble, string orchestra and solo voice amply illustrated why Ruthven can nail it when it comes to imaginative programming. Just how do they do it year after year?

Friday’s concert was something really special, one described by a member of the audience as “a sheer delight”. Wherever else could you experience a wind nonet by Spohr, a delightful quintet for wind and strings by Mozart and an octet for wind from the multi-faceted Charles Gounod? Where else can you find Shostakovich mixing with Gordon Jacob, contemporaries in time if little else?

That was a hard act to follow, but the Sunday afternoon follow-up was just as pleasing, more vocal than instrumental.

The vocal delights came from the musical chameleon that is soprano Zoe Perman. She’s at home in anything from Mozart to Strauss with some Offfenbach, Puccini and Schubert added for good measure. Her best? I’d plump for the Exultate Jubilate but her animated song from Tales Of Hoffman came a close second.

A vital part of the DNA of the festival are the Ruthven Festival Musicians, led by Audrey Mattner, and conducted over the weekend by Howard Duthie and Alan Young. Without their versatility, the festival would not be the same.