If you are planning a break in July, you might just want to avoid the 11th to 20th as, if you go then, you will miss all the delights of this year’s Islington Festival!
Now in its fifth year, Joana Ly and Martin André’s lovely musical celebration goes from strength to strength. Taking as its theme, Simple Gifts – pieces that were written as dedications – this year’s festival kicks off on July 11th in St Mary’s Upper Street with a dramatic flourish – Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Paquito d’Rivera’s Aires Tropicales and Copeland’s Appalacian Spring. And it ends, eleven days later on July 20th in Christ Church Highbury with Waxman, Bernstein, Dvorak and Florence Price.
In between there are:
- Two delightful Coffee concerts (last year’s was such a success that this year they are staging two)
- An evening at the musicals at the Little Angel Theatre
- Two Yoga with harp sessions
- A piano recital with festival favourite Dmitri Kalashnikov
- Tea time jazz and swing dance classes
- A programme of Bach and Beyond with Kati and Alma Debretzeni and James Johnstone
- A late night French flavoured soirée with tenor John Gyeantey
- A Spanish flavoured concert with the Cygnus Trio
- And a Walking Concert!
What a splendidly eclectic offering!
You can find all the details here and you can book for all events now.
Please note that tickets are FREE for under 18s and discounted for under 25s.
And if you really want to savour all that is on offer there is a Festival Pass which gets you in to all 20 events for a mere £170.
See you there!
So, the Highgate quartet…..
On Sunday we enjoyed a packed out return visit by Madeleine Mitchell and her London Chamber Ensemble (Madeleine and Gordon MacKay on violin, Bridget Carey on viola and Joseph Spooner on cello) playing Haydn’s Bird Quartet – and Charles Wood’s Highgate Quartet!
The Haydn was, of course, wonderful – but so was the Wood. Charles Wood, who is known mainly for his relatively solemn church music, was only 26 when he wrote this delightful quartet in 1892. He named it the Highgate Quartet as, at the time, he was staying with his brother William who was the music master at Highgate School. (Thank you to Madeleine for that charming bit of research!)
Anyhow, his quartet is not remotely ‘churchy’ – as you can here in this short clip from the concert.
If you would like to hear more of Madeleine’s playing (although not with the ensemble) you can can catch her on June 14th at Craxton Studios with Electra Schmidt playing Beethoven and Brahms violin sonatas (book here) – and..
At the wonderful Leighton House on Tuesday June 24th with Julian Milford (piano) and Kirsten Jenson (cello). Book here.
Meanwhile, coming up shortly in Highgate…..
Sunday 25th May – 12 noon – Highgate Society Lunchtime Concert
William Jack and his jazz cello. £15 to include a glass of Bucks Fizz – book here.
Thursday 12th June – 6.30pm – Hampstead Lane
The Return of Flanders and Swann
After their sell out recital last July Michael Mates and William Godfree are returning for another evening of Flanders and Swann songs – complete with 1950s supper. Only a few tickets left….
£30 to include supper and wine – book here.
Sunday 6th July – 6.30pm – Hampstead Lane
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio are returning with a programme of music by Mozart and his contemporaries.
£30 to include supper and wine – book here.
For future happenings in at Hampstead Lane and elsewhere – see our Upcoming Events page.
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