Out & About Spring 2019

Keep your eyes open between May 11 and 25 and you may spot pantechnicons unloading in town, unusual activity around village venues, men and women in dickie bows and evening dress clutching instrument cases, townsfolk clutching cushions, says NWN arts editor TRISH LEE. There’s a bit of a buzz going on – it’s festival fortnight. Festival feast

O ne of the most popular and successful music festivals in the South of England, the international Newbury Spring Festival has become something of an institution. Now in its 41st year, the festival prides itself in its concerts showcasing world class musicians and orchestras, but also prominently featured in the programme are concerts by young musicians – many spotted by festival director Mark Eynon, who spends the year going from concert to concert to seek out new young talent. Audiences lucky enough to have seen some of these young musicians over the years will have watched their careers go from strength to strength, many of them returning to the festival. One of the first young artists to appear at the first ‘gala concert’ 40 years ago was young violinist Nigel Kennedy, a name that now needs no introduction – one of the leading violinists of his generation, he has also been among the most controversial, with his unconventional interpretations, rock- star persona and ability to capture attention – and more recently pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, who first appeared at the festival when he was 18. Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Newbury Spring Festival, and again there is a wealth of choice of concerts

Tom Miller Quartet who play jazz, Early Music group Figo, soprano Josephine Goddard and the winner of Newbury’s Sheepdrove Piano Competition. Many artists who appeared either at a very young age or came as part of the Young Artists Programme have been invited back – take this year’s programme: pianist Robertas Lozinskas who won the Sheepdrove Piano Competition in 2016, is returning to give the Sheepdrove Piano Recital on Friday, May 17, and Adam Walker, originally performed as a Young Artist, is now principal flautist of the LSO as well as having an international career, is playing with his trio Adam Walker Trio at St Mary’s Church, Shaw on Tuesday, May 21. The Doric Quartet were still at college when they first came to Newbury, now they have a glittering international career and will appear at Englefield House on Wednesday, May 22. Two years ago Newbury’s own Michael Buchanan, principal trombonist for the Vienna Philharmonic, was part of the Young Artists programme and returns with his group Studio 5 on May 19 at St Mary’s Church, Kintbury, with a programme including opera arrangements and some lighter jazz numbers. Following their sell-out lunchtime concert last year, the Misha Mullov Abbado Group play their unique brand of jazz at the Corn Exchange on the evening of May 17.

Vario Duo

The Foyle-stsuva Duo

Figo

The list goes on, including soprano Sophie Bevan, clarinetist Julian Bliss and violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky – all are now major superstars, but appeared at the festival in the very early stage of their careers. Besides the Newbury Spring Festival being a great place to hear these young artists, the fact that many are asked back shows the commitment to bringing that talent to our town in the first place. Here’s a taster of the great music on offer this year.

from the worlds of classical, jazz, World Music, dance and theatre. So put your trust in the festival and book to see some artists on the brink of their career. A good place to start is the Young Artists Programme – a series of six lunchtime concerts that is a wonderful showcase for up-and-coming talent. This year they feature a violin/piano duo called The Foyle- stsuva Duo, Vario Duo who are a saxophone/piano duo, the

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