BATH is a beautiful city, delightful at any time of year, but late autumn brings one of its special treats, the annual Mozartfest. This year, running from 7th to 15th November, to brings outstanding musicians, including the Carducci, Consone, Castalian and Schumann string quartets, acclaimed soloists Imogen Cooper, Cedric Tiberghien and Jennifer Pike, and larger forces, the Nash Ensemble, the Halle Orchestra and La Nuova Musica.
The Mozartfest has been a regular date in the Bath cultural calendar for more than 30 years, building an enviable reputation for artistic excellence in chamber and orchestral music. In its annual festival, it presents the finest classical music performed by world-renowned artists. The festival was created in 1991 thanks to a generous bequest by Mrs Mary Purnell, in memory of her late son Mark who adored the music of Mozart and the City of Bath. Today the festival income comes from the generosity of private and corporate sponsors and of course ticket sales.
Sadly, Mrs Purnell did not live to enjoy the first festival which was programmed by Yehudi Menuhin. Amelia Freedman, who sadly died in July, took over as artistic director in 1995. She had a long and distinguished career, not least as founder of the Nash Ensemble and as a former Head of Classical Music at the South Bank Centre. With Amelia’s peerless programming, and with a small and committed board and staff team, Bath Mozartfest has gone from strength to strength and today is firmly established as one of Europe’s leading classical music festivals.
The opening event at the principal venue, St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, is the Schumann Quartet playing three quartets by Mozart (No 15), Haydn (D major Op 20) and Beethoven (no 16, his last completed work).
On Saturday 8th, the Consone Quartet will be at St Mary’s for a coffee time recital with Kristian Bezuidenhout, fortepiano, playing works by Haydn and Mozart. The evening concert at the Forum features the Halle, conducted by Sir Mark Elder, with Dame Imogen Cooper as soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto no 27.
An early Sunday evening recital features baritone Konstantin Krimmel, with pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips, performing Schubert’s Winterreise. Monday’s lunchtime concert at the Guildhall brings the Leonore Piano Trio (pictured) playing works by Haydn and Dvorak. In the evening the Nash Ensemble is at St Mary’s, playing Mozart’s Piano Trio in G major and String Quintet no 3, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E flat major.
On Tuesday 11th, the Carducci Quartet are at the Guildhall with works by Haydn and Schubert, and in the evening virtuoso pianist Cedric Tiberghien will be at St Mary’s playing Mozart’s Piano Sonata no 14 and Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations.
The Wednesday lunchtime recital at the Guildhall brings daughter and father Jennifer Pike (violin) and Jeremy Pike (piano) playing works by Mozart, Lili Boulanger and Beethoven. The evening event brings the popular Tenebrae choir to St Mary’s with a programme called English Glories of the 16th Century.
The Guildhall is the venue for a Thursday lunchtime two-piano recital by Philip Moore and Simon Crawford-Phillips. The exciting programme includes Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Ravel’s Rhapsodie espagnole, and Mozart’s Adagio and Allegro. In the evening the Castalian Quartet play works by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Beethoven at St Mary’s.
On Friday evening, St Mary ‘s is the venue for an exciting trio of Imogen Cooper, piano, Henning Kraggerud, violin, and Adrian Brendel, cello, playing piano trios by Schubert.
Saturday, the final day, sees the Kleio Quartet with Elizaveta Ivanova, flute, Annelien van Wauwe, clarinet, and Sally Pryce, harp, in a varied programme including works by Ravel, Debussy, Weber and Mozart. And the final event is the distinguished ensemble La Nuova Musica, who specialise in music from the baroque and classical periods. Their concert at Bath Abbey includes Mozart’s Mass in C minor and an aria from Idomeneo. They will be accompanied by Bath Camerata, and conducted by David Bates.
For full information on performers, the programme and booking, visit www.bathmozartfest.org.uk
Photographs: Leonore Trio ©Kaupo Kikkas; Cédric Tiberghien ©Jean-Baptiste Millot; Jennifer Pike ©Arno