CAMBRIDGE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL - PREVIEW FOR WEEK TWO
Cambridge’s remarkable summer of music goes into its second packed week. This evening Leo Popplewell plays Bach’s sixth suite for cello and in line with the theme of the festival, works inspired by the great J.C. The setting is worth the entry fee alone – the memorial building at the American Cemetery in Madingley; a fascinating choice.
Why not start the week with a some more sumptuous Bach? His Goldberg Variations will be performed on the harpsichord by Mahan Esfahani, the Iranian-American virtuoso. On the following day (23 July) you can continue to marvel at the oft neglected works by Clara Schumann in a recital by the globally celebrated tenor James Gilchrist. The rich programme also includes songs by Clara’s husband Robert, her great friend Johannes Brahms, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, Roger Quilter and Francis Pott.
On the 24 July the music picnic called Sounds Green continues with Noga Ritter, the Israeli singer-songwriter who melds Jazz with Afro and sings in Hebrew and English. On the 26 July you can come out of the sunshine to enjoy Musica Vera performing Bach transcriptions and music by Pachelbel, Buxtehude, and JC Bach. Fans of operetta (including your reviewer) will want to can-can their way to hear Dame Felicity Lott displaying her vocal genius in works by Offenbach, Noel Coward and Sondheim (26 July).
On the following day take the family to enjoy Sir Goward the Coward and the Feasty Beasty, a fully-staged production with singing, dancing, splendid costumes and music from the Sirinu ensemble of early instruments. The Orpheus Sinfonia conducted by David Hill bring the fortnight’s music-making to a rousing end with Mendelssohn’s well-loved Hebrides Overture, followed by Beethoven’s fourth piano concerto, featuring audience favourite Patrick Hemmerlé as soloist. Mendelssohn’s sunny Italian Symphony closes the Festival – a fitting tribute to the musician who did more than any other to restore the reputation of JS Bach.
Online information and booking
www.cambridgesummermusic.co.uk or www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/tickets
Box Office
Cambridge Live Tickets, Wheeler Street, Cambridge CB2 3QB (Mon–Fri 12pm–6pm; Sat 10am–6pm) Tel: 01223 357851 (Mon–Sat 10am–6pm)
