Kentish Express Ashford & District
Top Swiss musicians at festival weekend
jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk STOUR Music welcomes two groups of young musicians from Switzerland on the first weekend of its annual festival.
Ensemble Meridiana, who won the York International Young Artists’ Competition in 2009, will perform at 7.30pm on Saturday, June 22 in a var- ied programme of 18th century music by French and Italian composers including Vivaldi.
Following the concert at All Saints Church, Boughton Aluph, audiences can stay on for supper in the Festival Marquee but pre-booking is essential.
After dinner the candlelit, late-night performance at 10pm will be by another Swiss ensemble called La Morra, play- ing ballads and madrigals from 14th century Italy with accompaniment on harpsichord, lute and early stringed instruments.
More unusual instruments can be heard the following weekend in the concert at 7.30pm on Friday, June 28 as Fretwork, a group of five Viol players perform to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the birth of John Dowland, accompanied by lutenists Elizabeth Kenny and tenor James Gilchrist.
The late night performance at 10pm is by The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments includes a hurdy gurdy, nyckelharpa, oud, vielle and other unusual bass instruments in dances, songs and music associated with angels.
The youngest performers at the festival are violinst Emmanuel Webb, aged 12, and brother cellist Gabriel, aged nine, accompanied by their father and distinguished conductor Jonathan Webb from 10pm on Saturday, June 29 - in a programme that includes music by Haydn and Handel.
Performances for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightment on June 23 and the Monteverdi Vespers on June 30 have already sold out.
For the full programme go to www.stourmusic.org.uk
To book tickets call the box office on 05603 434123 or for more information call 01233 812740.