Musicfest 2010 programme goes live

The programme for the 2010 MUSICFEST International Music Festival, which is held in Aberystwyth,  has been announced. As ever there is a wonderful week of music in store, all set amidst the stunning and inspirational setting of the Mid Wales coast.

The festival opens on Saturday 24th July and runs until Saturday 31st July. Within that week there are 24 concerts, 6 open masterclasses, 15 free events and 5 showcase concerts from the Summer School participants. So a busy week is in store!

The festival’s Artistic Director David Campbell has brought together a talented array of musicians who will be performing a wonderful range of works. They include cellist Guy Johnston, pianist Tom Poster, the Sacconi Quartet, harpist Eleanor Turner, the Bardolino trio from Prague, the Orion Orchestra conducted by Toby Purser and early music specialists the Band of Instruments.

The daily routine of concerts is a hectic one – lunchtime recitals, followed by masterclasses in the afternoon, a free ‘studio music’ series in the early evening, followed by free foyer music before the main evening concert.  Highlights include:

• Guy Johnston performing the Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major with the Orion Orchestra, and joining forces with pianist Tom Poster and violinist Pavel Fischer for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.  The Orion is one of London's newest and most exciting orchestras, formed three years ago by its musical director Toby Purser for a gala concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Since that first concert, performing with violinist Nicola Benedetti and mezzo-soprano Ann Murray, the orchestra has built up a reputation as one of London's most exciting, dynamic and talented young orchestras, with the players selected from the best recent music college graduates and students.

• A glorious evening of music courtesy of Band of Instruments who will be performing works by Purcell, Biber and Scarlatti in the wonderful historic setting of Llanbadarn Church. The Band of Instruments was established in 1995 and is a versatile ensemble of musicians dedicated to playing, in an enlightened manner, instruments of a number of periods; its repertoire extends from the 17th century to the early 19th century and beyond.

• For younger family members there is a Tiddly Prom, a special interactive show for the under 5s and their families.

• The National Youth Brass Band of Wales conducted by Edward Gregson with trumpet soloist Gareth Small.

• Music by Schubert, Dvorak, Milhaud, Bach, Ireland, Britten, Mozart, Beethoven, Metcalf, Haydn, Purcell, Biber, Scarlatti, Rossini, Mendelssohn, PIerne, Finzi, Ravel, Janacek, Walton, Kodaly and more.

Alongside the concert programme all the performing artists are busy teaching and giving masterclasses to the 100+ students who travel here from all over the world for the Musicfest Summer School. This year’s courses include specialist training for string and woodwind players, composers, conductors, music psychologists, harpists and vocal skills.

A full programme of concerts is available and bookings are open now – call 01970 62 32 32 or online http://www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre / http://www.abermusicfest.org  Some spaces are still available on the Summer School – contact Musicfest@aber.ac.uk for details of availability.