THE first ever festival in Winchester dedicated solely to chamber music was such a success that organisers will do it again next year.
Cellist Kate Gould - born and educated in Winchester - brought her group, the London Bridge Ensemble, to perform various quintets, quartets and trios by Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Mendelssohn at an unusually high level and said that she wanted to make the event a firm fixture in Winchester's cultural calendar.
The musician said: "We really couldn't have hoped for a better response from the audience, confirming we're doing the right thing in bringing the unique intensity and beauty of chamber music to the people of Winchester. The Milner Hall was a perfect setting for a warm, festival atmosphere and the acoustic was wonderful for our ensemble of strings, piano and baritone voice."
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Another element of the festival was a masterclass, when the ensemble coached quartets from Peter Symonds College and Winchester College, and a piano student from Peter Symonds played to the pianist and Co-Director of the festival, Daniel Tong.
There was also a strong emphasis on English music. Ivan Ludlow, a one-time lay clerk at Winchester Cathedral, sang songs by Dvorak, Vaughan Williams and the group's eponymous Frank Bridge.
The next festival will take place April 24 to 26, 2009. For further further information or join the mailing list, e-mail kategouldcello@gmail.com or write to Daniel Tong, 20a Bishopsthorpe Road, London SE26 4NY.
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