Out & About Summer 2021

Out&About interview

Smith, Westminster Abbey’s current organ scholar, who will give a recital at St George’s, Wash Common. But one concert I am particularly excited about is on September 15, when a specially commissioned performance of Mozart’s Serenade for 13 Winds, his ‘Grand Partita’ will be performed in St Nic’s by students from London’s Royal College of Music, led by Italian postgraduate conductor Nicolò Foron. Three other concerts with outstanding young artists to look out for: on September 13, two young guitarists called Duo, YouTube stars well known for their busking will give a concert at the Corn Exchange, on 14 September the young Spanish saxophonist Manu Brazo, pianist Prajna Indrawati and violinist Claudia Gallardo will perform a programme of popular classics and, when that venue is closed on the middle weekend, members of National Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform at Horris Hill. What in your view are the highlights of the programme?

years ago and gave one of the best performances I have ever heard of the Bach Mass in B minor. They are back in St Nicolas Church on September 17 with a performance of popular Bach Cantatas. What is there for those who might not want classical music? Our aim is to have something for everyone so I am delighted that the a cappella group Sons of Pitches will be opening the Corn Exchange programme on September 4. The steel band Solid Steel Ambassadors, who are always popular here in Newbury, are back on September 7, and the Dominic Alldis Trio will perform on September 8 with their tribute to Jacques Loussier. All these artists should have been performing here last year so I am thrilled that they are all able to come back. What is your main theme this year? The theme is to celebrate being back playing live music and inviting as many artists as possible. The story is: we are back in business and here to stay!

That is such a hard question because I am looking forward to all the concerts, but if I had to pick, there are probably three that are particularly close to my heart. The first is that the pianist Benjamin Grosvenor is returning to the festival. He first came to Newbury as a student and is now one of the world’s leading young pianists. Despite a very busy schedule, I am thrilled that he is coming to give a solo recital of Brahms, Chopin and Liszt in the Corn Exchange on September 12. The other concert I must mention is on September 10, when we have an opera gala evening in St Nicolas Church. Festival Chorus Master Tom Primrose will accompany four young British opera stars in a concert of vocal favourites by composers such as Mozart, Handel and Verdi and the whole evening will culminate in the Brahms’ ravishing Liebeslieder Waltzes. Finally I just can’t not mention the young choir Solomon’s Knot who came to the festival three

O&A SUMMER 2021

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