|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking back with pleasure Looking ahead with excitement
Looking back
April 16th saw the conclusion of the second Elias Parish Alvars Harp Festival in Teignmouth. Once again musicians from around the world had gathered in Teignmouth to celebrate the town’s most eminent harpist, Elias Parish Alvars.
The festival concert series was opened by Sioned Williams, principal harpist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, who performed an enchanting evening lecture-recital highlighting John Thomas, harpist to the Queen. The second concert featured the festival’s founder Florence Sitruk and eminent most highly regarded violist Hartmut Rohde performing solo works, chamber music and arrangements for harp and other instruments. They were joined by harpist Emma Graham from Exeter and cellist Christoph Bunzendahl from Antwerp. The final concert featured participants of the harp masterclass as well as Giulia Ott from Switzerland, winner of last years Elias Parish Alvars Festvial Solo Competition.
The Bay Hotel, which has become the official home and heart of the festival, was filled with the sounds of harp and viola students from sunrise till sunset. People passing the hotel would turn their heads and smile as they listened to the pleasant accords flowing from the opened windows. Guests of the hotel would ask the teachers to leave their doors open, so that they too might enjoy the music.
|
Looking ahead
We are already in the process of joining great ideas with great music and musicians to make the Elias Parish Alvars Festival 2010 truly unforgettable. We cannot yet uncover too many details, however, the central idea of the 3rd edition will focus on Elias Parish Alvars and the virtuoso composers of the early romantic period.
It will be an explosion of the most provocative music of the period. It will celebrate true masters of their instruments and present compositions which ordinarily might represent the absolute highlight of an entire concert. The festival will again include masterclasses and lectures by local and international artists and lecturers.
For now
I would sincerely like to thank all faculty, students, participants and listeners who helped make this year’s festival an absolute joy. The helpfulness and excitement shown by everybody involved made us realize the appreciation and enthusiasm felt by the residents of Teignmouth, and encourages us to expand our efforts in bringing great music and performers to Teignmouth next year. We hope to see everyone again in 2010 and look forward to a growing festival family. Once the summer has passed you will be able to find more details about next year’s festival on our website. For now I wish to thank everyone who helped to make this year an absolute pleasure and wish everyone a very relaxing summer.
Yours Truly,
Florence Sitruk, Artistic Director and the Festival Team |
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2008-2009 epa-festival | Design: Bernard Meier |
||
|
|
||
