Autumn in Malvern Festival 2023
30 November -1
Founded in 1989 by Peter Smith, the festival is classical music based with a strong literary and visual arts element.
The European Union Chamber Orchestra returns again this year by popular demand, whose ranks include some of the finest musicians chosen from countries across the EU. This year they will perform a programme of works by Prokofiev, Walton and Tchaikovsky, as well as Mozart’s Piano Concerto No12 in A, with the brilliant Yuzhang Li as soloist.
Malvern’s outstanding chamber choir Aldwyn Voices will present a programme of choral music and poetry entitled ‘From William Byrd to James MacMillan’, marking the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s death and his legacy. Both concerts are in the Great Hall at Malvern College.
There is an illustrated talk by expert Eleanor Rawling on the Gloucestershire poet and composer Ivor Gurney, alongside a concert including Gurney’s songs performed by the rising stars Nicholas Pritchard, Tenor, and Simon Lepper, Piano – accompanist to BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. The concert includes songs by Ian Venables, described by the magazine Musical Opinion as our ‘greatest living composer of art songs’.
The festival’s principal exhibition at Great Malvern Library is Over the Line, oil and watercolour paintings by David Birtwhistle, plus Just Dance, paintings by Anthia Nakorn. Colwall Village Hall hosts an illustrated talk by the leading expert on the St Ives Colony of Artists, David Tovey, continuing the festival’s long link with the Dame Laura Knight Society. Several other galleries in the town centre have interesting exhibitions as well.
Elmslie House hosts an exhibition of art by The Hills Artists, as well as a concert by The Worcestershire Saxophone Quartet that includes works by Paul Reade and John Rushby-Smith.
The Nicolai Choir, chamber choir of Stockholm Cathedral, are performing in Great Malvern Priory, where an exhibition entitled Malvern Connections is mounted in the North Aisle by local historian Brian Iles.
The distinguished Harpsichordist, Iain Simcock, introduces and performs JS Bach’s final great work The Art of Fugue at the Grade1 Listed, St Leonard’s Chapel, Beauchamp Community, Malvern Link.
You will find a full programme for this year’s festival on the website. Bookings can be made via Malvern Theatre’s box office on (01684) 892277, for enquiries please email malvernmusic@outlook.com