Kew Music Festival 19 - 27 June 2010
Nicola Benedetti and Juliet Stevenson star alongside local musicians in the first ever Kew Music Festival
The brand new Kew Music Festival kicks off on Saturday 19 June featuring nine days of performances by young people, local amateurs and world famous musicians and actors, brought together to celebrate the life and culture of this beautiful corner of South-West London.
Kew Music Festival are delighted to welcome actors Juliet Stevenson (“Truly Madly Deeply”) and Alex Jennings (“The Queen”) who, together with pianist Lucy Parham will be performing “Nocturne” – the romantic life of Chopin scripted from his own letters and diaries, chosen as “Best Chopin of the Year” by the Times.
Events and venues
Benedetti along with virtuoso cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk will perform to an exclusive audience in the delightful atmosphere of a private home on Kew Green. Their programme includes Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 3 and Rachmaninov’s Piano Trio No. 2.
Another fine Georgian house will play host to the wonderful String of Pearls quartet who will perform the music of Purcell, Handel, Bach and Mozart.
Juliet Stevenson
Kew schools will be performing in the Festival either individually, en masse, or in collaboration with visiting professionals such as the delightful Garden Opera company. Meanwhile the most talented young competition winners in the Borough will be performing excerpts from their favourite concertos at a special concert at the Barn Church to showcase up-and-coming young musicians.
Local ensembles Kew Sinfonia, the Friends of Kew, Kew Wind Orchestra with Jools Holland singer Louise Marshall and chamber groups will be performing, and all the events are taking place in Kew venues - churches, the Palace, gardens, private houses and pubs, and just over the river to the stunning Musical Museum.
On midsummer night a really special event will be taking place. Peter Maxwell-Davies’ “Eight Songs for a Mad King” – a musical theatre depiction of George III’s illness set to the poetry of Randolf Stow and using words from the king’s own diaries – will be performed by the Ossian Ensemble featuring Kelvin Thomas in the exquisite dining room in Kew Palace. Forty lucky audience members will be treated to a feast for the senses including an access all areas tour of the Palace, drinks reception, talk by Kew historian Dr David Blomfield MBE, and organ music played on Handel’s instrument, with the evening culminating in the unique performance of this cult piece.
More information
For more information see a full line-up of events and booking information here or call the Box Office on 07771 565140.