The 5th Stamford International Music Festival begins on July 27th and ends with a grand finale in the Ballroom at the Arts Centre on Saturday, August 9th. David Lankester reviews this year’s event
To date, the Festival has been one of Stamford’s best-kept secrets. Many people haven’t had any idea that it was even taking place. As a result, they have missed out on the chance to listen to some wonderful music being played by internationally acclaimed teachers and some fine young musicians from all over the world. This year, a big effort is being made to make sure that many more people know what’s going on.
Why the Festival came to Stamford
The Festival Director is Dr Andrew Smith. He is now based in the U.S.A., but is well known locally. Recently, by special request, he came back ‘just’ to lead the orchestra in the Stamford Choral Society’s performance of ‘The Kingdom’ by Elgar in Peterborough Cathedral.
Andrew got to know and love Stamford when bringing visiting orchestras here and he realised that it had two of the essentials needed for a successful Music Festival – enthusiastic supporters and good facilities. This prompted him to start the Festival five years ago. Many people have been involved, particularly Lucy Kong, the Festival Administrator and Janet Johnson, who are leading members of Stamford’s Choral Society. There have also been close links with the music staff at Stamford School, including Paul White, David Lovell Brown and Dan Leetch, who have all been very helpful.
The music
The Festival is made up of concerts, master classes and private lessons. Most of the concerts are held in the Stamford School Hall (off St Paul’s St), but there will be two lunchtime concerts in St Martin’s Church, and on Saturday, 9th August, the final concert - ‘The Best of the Festival’ - will be in the Ballroom at the Arts Centre – a great setting for what should be a memorable treat.
Another interesting experience is to go to one of the Festival’s Master Classes, where the players talk about the music beforehand – questions like what’s the music ‘saying,’ how should the different parts relate to and engage each other, what tone, intensity, and so on. The players then put some of that discussion into practice. It’s fascinating and mind opening to hear this all going on – being led by the enthusiastic, supportive but also demanding teachers, who have come from all over the world to be part of the Festival. These Master Classes are open to the public, are free, and are at 5.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, Aug 4th and 5th in the Stamford School Hall.
There’s also an opportunity to meet the musicians. Those who aren’t playing at a particular concert help with the arrangements on the day and the actual performers usually join the audience after the concerts have finished.
Details of the programme
The key parts of the programme are as follows:
Sunday, July27th at 7.30pm:
Debussy, Bach, Boccherini, Beethoven
Wednesday, July 30th:
Bach, Vaughan Williams, Blacher
Friday, August 1st:
Mozart, Massenet
Saturday, August 2nd:
Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann
Sunday, August 3rd:
Elgar, Rachmaninov
Wednesday, August 6th:
Lunchtime concert at St Martin’s
Thursday, August 7th:
International Student concert (free admission)
Friday August 10th:
International Student concert (free admission)
Saturday, August 9th:
The Best of the Festival.
Tickets and further details for all the concerts are available at the Stamford Arts Centre (Tel: 01780 763203)
‘Grand Finale’
It is very much hoped that there will be a big attendance at the last concert on August 9th – the Best of the Festival – which will be in the Ballroom at the Stamford Arts Centre. If previous years are anything to go by, it will be a wonderful evening. Go to it and bring some friends too – you won’t regret it!