AN EXCITING array of international classical artists will perform in Farnham over two weekends in May – and tickets are free!
The musicians will be participating in the third Farnham Chamber Music Festival, gathered by professional violinist Elizabeth Cooney and supported by Tilford Bach Society and much appreciated sponsors.
Musically, there is something for everyone with works spanning over 300 years from Purcell to Bernstein and brilliant young UK composer Freya Waley-Cohen.
Most concerts are at The Spire Church in South Street, Farnham, and one lunchtime concert takes place at Farnham Pottery in Wrecclesham.
Opening the festival on Friday, May 13, at 7.30pm, is the Vida Guitar Quartet, comprising of four exceptional guitarists who according to Classic FM “conjure up an orchestral palette of colour and effects, they play with technical brilliance and precise ensemble, creating alternately smoky and glittering colours”.
Their programme includes pieces such as Bach’s Brandeburg Concerto No.3 as well as works by Vaughan Williams, Mendelssohn, Villa-Lobos and Bernstein.
On Saturday, May 14, at 7.30pm, violinist Elizabeth Cooney and colleagues Daisy Spiers, viola; Benedict Rogerson, cello and Daniel Hill, piano will perform a programme of piano quartets by Schumann, Mozart and Frank Bridge.
The following Saturday, May 21, at 7.30pm, the brilliant Albion String Quartet will perform Dvorak’s String Quartet No.13, Beethoven’s late string quartet No.16 Op.135 and Freya Waley-Cohen’s dynamic piece Snapdragon.
In addition to the events above, the festival is adding a Young Talent in Recital lunchtime concert at Farnham Pottery on Saturday, May 21, at 1pm, featuring Thea Grace Callaghan, soprano and Meg Cave, harpsichord with a beautiful programme of Baroque delights – arias by Handel, Bach, Mozart and Jonathan Dove.
An important element to the festival is to highlight the home-grown talent of young musicians in Farnham so join the audience on Sunday, May 15 from 2pm to 6pm at The Spire Church to hear young violinists and pianists play for public masterclasses in a workshop environment.
All concerts are free entry but go to www.tilbach.org.uk to reserve seats and there will be a retiring collection of £15 suggested. All children and young families free entry.