Cantilena Festival
3 – 8 July 2022
The Cantilena Festival is delighted to return to the island of Islay for a week-long festival of classical chamber music. Through the recently launched Cantilena Scholar Programme, students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will be selected to join seven professional players to perform throughout the island. The students will embrace the highly-sought-after privilege to learn alongside the musicians who have all worked with Britain’s major orchestras. The Cantilena Festival offers the only opportunity for Islay residents to hear music which ranges from Renaissance to the present day. Cantilena has become a near sell-out event, attracting audiences from as far afield as Germany and Italy, thanks to the intimate and informal atmosphere of the venues which include some of the island’s famous malt whisky distilleries.
What is Cantilena Festival?
To the beautiful and romantic Hebridean island of Islay, Cantilena brings equally beautiful music, from the dazzling virtuosity of Vivaldi and Bach, through the romantic sophistication of Beethoven and Schubert, right up to the challenges of modern composers. The professional musicians involved in Cantilena Festival on Islay are driven by a powerful desire to share their ideas and passionate love of music-making with the emerging generation. Each year they invite young musicians from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, who benefit greatly from the opportunity of working alongside more experienced players.
Who is it for?
Cantilena aims to achieve excellence through co-operation between our professionals, young musicians and the people of Islay; to bring together a group of fine musicians to rehearse and perform works by the great composers in relaxed and informal surroundings; to champion the cause of youth both within the Cantilena group and with the participation of the people of Islay; and to break down the barriers between different musical cultures and make the festival available to all
Please visit www.cantilenafestival.co.uk to keep up to date with the full itinerary and ticketing information.