Shaldon Festival 1999

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Choral Workshop and Informal Concert 1999 directed by Sir David Willcocks

The Bingham String Quartet

Concert
Sunday 27 June 1999

Bingham Quartet
Stephen Bingham violin
Sally-Ann Weeks violin
Brenda Stewart viola
James Halsey cello
with
David Campbell clarinet
Nigel Clayton piano

Programme
Schubert: Quartettsatz in C minor
Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op. 115
Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor Op. 34
Detail:

The Bingham String Quartet celebrates its 15th Anniversary in the 1999-2000 season. One of a prestigious line of quartets found under the guidance of Sidney Griller, this superb ensemble has achieved a maturity which is indisputable. A rich, well-balanced sound, passion and spontaneity in performance coupled with informative spoken introductions, and a commitment to mixed programming give this quartet a strong and distinctive personality.

Choral Workshop and Informal Concert 1999 directed by Sir David Willcocks

Choral Workshop
Saturday 26 June 1999

Choral Workshop and Informal Concert

Sir David Willcocks: Conductor
Peter Adcock Piano
Alison Chryssides: Soprano
Carolyn Harries: Alto
Adrian Clifford: Tenor
John Hobbs: Bass

Programme
Mozart: Requiem
Rutter: Magnificat
Sir David Willcocks is regarded as the world’s pre-eminent conductor and teacher of choral music. Born in Newquay, Cornwall, Sir David began his musical training at the age of eight as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, later winning scholarships to Clifton College and King’s College Cambridge. He was 19 when he joined the Army in 1940, just one year into his Organ Scholarship at King’s. During his war service he served in the 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, becoming a Captain in 1944 and awarded the Military Cross during the Normandy campaign of that year. After his war service he was elected Fellow of King’s College Cambridge, and appointed conductor of the Cambridge Philharmonic Society. Subsequently he became Organist of Salisbury Cathedral, and later of Worcester Cathedral, conducting at the Three Choirs Festival from 1950 to 1957.
For 16 years from 1957 to 1973 he held the important post of Director of Music at King’s College Cambridge. During this time Sir David brought the Kings College Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols to ever widening audiences through television, radio broadcasts to more and more countries, and numerous carol recordings. In 1960, in addition to his duties at Kings, at the age of 40, Sir David became Musical Director of the Bach Choir, where he developed and guided the choir to the pre-eminent position it occupies today on the British choral scene. He relinquished the post in Easter 1998, and remains their Conductor Laureate. His third important post was Director of the Royal College of Music in London from 1974 to 1984.

Sir David was knighted in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Honours List and has been awarded honorary degrees in the USA and Canada as well as the Universities of Bradford, Bristol, Exeter, Leicester and Sussex in England. Even at the age of 89 Sir David maintains a busy schedule of concerts including recent visits to the USA, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and many European countries.

The Yehudi Menuhin School

Concert
Friday 25 June 1999

The Yehudi Menuhin School

Benjamin Marquise Gilmore violin and Olga Sitkovetsky piano
Falla: Danse Espagnol (La Vida Breve)

Emmanuel Despax piano
Beethoven: 32 Variations

Leonard Elschenbroich cello and Irina Botan piano
Fauré: Elegy

Simone Lamsma violin and Olga Sitkovetsky piano
Sarasate: Carmen Fantasie

Wu Qian piano
Liszt: Rhapsody No. 2

Nicola Benedetti violin and Irina Botan piano
Vieuxtemps: Rondino

Elena Hull double bass
Gliere: Scherzo

Irina Botan piano
Scriabin: Etude in C# minor and F# minor

Alexander Sitkovetsky violin and Olga Sitkovetsky piano
Wieniawski: Variations on an original theme

The Shaldon Festival Committee expressed its sadness at the recent death of Lord Menuhin on 12th March 1999.

The programme note includes:

Nicola Benedetti is 11 and lives in Scotland. She was one of the two young violinists who performed the Bach Double Concerto at Yehudi Menuhin’s memorial service, and only ten days ago she played to Prince Edward.

Emma Kirkby and the Purcell Quartet

Concert
Thursday 24 June 1999

Emma Kirkby: Soprano
Purcell Quartet
Catherine Mackintosh violin
Catherine Weiss violin
Richard Woolley harpsichord
Richard Boothby viola da gamba and cello
Programme
Handel: Trio Sonata in G major Op. 5 No. 4
Purcell: O Solitude, Pavan in Bb, The Entrance of Night, The Evening Hymn
Rameau: Orphée
Leclair: Sonata in F major Op. 4 No. 4
Handel: Alpestre Monte
Detail:

From the 1999 programme note:

“For two decades, Kirkby’s clear, agile voice has epitomised the pure sound of early music singing. She remains one of the treasures of the music world” (Toronto Globe and Mail).

The Purcell Quartet is probably the most stable ensemble in the early music scene. Founded in 1983, through nearly 30 recordings of a huge range of repertory, they have established themselves as leaders in the area of baroque chamber music. During their 15 years together, the group has toured the world, including the USA, South America, all countries of Europe and regular visits to t0 Japan for over ten years.