Islay prepares to host festival that should be a real classic
AS THE beginning of July approaches, preparations are being put in place for the Cantilena Festival on Islay.
The festival will run from Sunday to Friday July 3 to 8, with four professional players and seven senior/postgraduate students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland taking part.
The first concert of the festival will take place on Sunday in the Columba Centre in Bowmore and will include a piano trio of Haydn, a piano quartet of Mozart and a piano quintet of Schumann.
On Monday July 4 at Laphroaig, the focus is on the student members of the group when individual students demonstrate their talents. The whole ensemble will then perform Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross.
On Tuesday in the Columba Centre, Bowmore, Havilland Willshire will present a piano recital and the night will also include performances of music by Scarlatti, Ravel and Grieg.
Wednesday’s concert includes music by Galuppi and Marcello with a concerto for double bass and strings by Bottesini.
The following evening, in Ardbeg, Cantilena will present an all-Mozart programme dedicated to the late captain Tom Friedrich of Islay House, who was a great friend and supporter of Cantilena. The programme includes a piano trio, an oboe quartet and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
The final concert will take place at Bruichladdich, in the village hall, and will include Tchailovsky’s Serenade for strings and Cantilena’s “classical ceilidh”.
This year artistic directors are Angus Ramsay and Scott Mitchell. All concerts start at 7.30pm and tickets are available from Celtic House, Bowmore, or at the door of the various venues.
Prior to these events, a short programme of light classics will take place in the Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven, on Thursday June 30 at 8pm and tickets are available at the door.
For further information refer to www.cantilenafestival.co.uk.