www.endellionfestivals.org.uk

dteks web design

follow us:

St Endellion Summer Festival  2012

It is with great pleasure and pride that I take over the artistic helm of the St Endellion Summer Festival alongside our new chairman, Tom Hickox. I first met Tom at St Endellion when he was two years old and we can both say that the Festival has a very special place in our hearts. 

After the extraordinary success of the 2011 Festival with its never-to-be-forgotten performances of Wagner's Die Walküre, 2012 will transport us to a completely different world with two performances of Stravinsky's Hogarth-inspired opera, The Rake's Progress. This marvellous piece, with its beautiful and poetic libretto by WH Auden and Chester Kalman is written in Stravinsky's neo-classical style with witty and moving reference to Mozart, Donizetti and Monteverdi. I am delighted that Ryan Wigglesworth will return to the Festival after his thrilling performances of Eugene Onegin two years ago, to conduct a work that he and I love deeply. Also returning from Onegin will be Katherine Broderick, the sensational Tatyana, to sing Anne Truelove and Susan Bickley to play the magnificent Baba the Turk. I have invited one of my oldest friends and operatic super-star, Christopher Purves to sing Nick Shadow and I will gamble for my soul with him as Tom Rakewell. The performances will be in St Endellion Church on Friday 3rd and Sunday 5th August.

The Festival’s opening concert (Wednesday 1st August) will feature Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto and see the return of pianist Charles Owen. Charles enjoyed the Festival so much last year that he practically begged to come back - fortunately we loved him, too! This programme will also feature the Festival chorus, singing  Mozart's C minor Mass conducted by Aidan Oliver, the Festival's newly-appointed Associate Conductor. Our Truro performance will take place in the Cathedral on Tuesday 7th August, and will feature Vaughan Williams’  Five Mystical Songs and Tippett’s most popular and well-known work,
A Child of our Time.  With a line up that includes Rachel Nicholls, Mark Padmore and Roderick Williams, this concert will be repeated in St Endellion to close the festival on Friday 10th August.  A further orchestral and choral concert in St Endellion on Thursday 9th August will feature Brahms Symphony No 2 conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth and Britten’s Les Illuminations with Mark Padmore.

There will be also be a wonderful programme of chamber music including Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale conducted by Aidan Oliver, Brahms' Piano Trio featuring the St Endellion Festival Orchestra’s inspirational leader Gabrielle Painter with principal cellist Joely Koos and pianist Iain Burnside – who of course was also Artistic Director of the 2011 Festival.  Other chamber programmes will include a recital of Brahms Lieder with Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside and readings with actress Victoria Newlyn.   We would be delighted if you could come and join us for what promises to be a hugely exciting festival.   I’m really looking forward to it and hope you are too.”

Mark Padmore

Artistic Director

Click here for Summer Festival 2011 chairman’s report