Established over 40 years ago in the former county town of Radnorshire, the Presteigne Festival has become a focal point for those seeking musical innovation and artistic discovery amidst the beauty of the Welsh Marches. This year’s festival features several composers published by Wise Music Group - the Composer in Residence is Roxanna Panufnik. There is a world premiere from Edward Gregson, plus music by Jonathan Dove, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Witold Lutosławski, John McCabe and Judith Weir.
Zoe Drummond and Chris Hopkins will premiere Gallery of Memories by Panufnik setting poems by Jessica Duchen on Saturday 26 in a programme with Five Am’rous Sighs by Jonathan Dove. Also on Saturday is the premiere of the new Viola Concerto Three Goddesses by Edward Gregson, with Rachel Roberts as soloist. George Vass will conduct the Festival Orchestra at St Andrew’s Church.
Panufnik’s choral work Love Endureth will be performed at the Festival Eucharist by the Choir of King’s College, London, directed by Joseph Fort, with the Charles Maxtone-Smith at St Andrew’s Church in Presteigne, as well as at Leominster Priory alongside We sekyn here rest by Judith Weir.
The Solem Quartet will perform Heartfelt by Panufnik and Silver Nocturnes by John McCabe on Friday 25. There will also be performances of by Odysseus Weeps by Cheryl Frances-Hoad and on Sunday 27 Ivana Gavrić will play Frances-Hoad’s Homages – Books 1 and 2. Also on Sunday, members of the Kegelstatt Trio will perform the Dance Preludes by Witold Lutosławski.
On Monday 28 – the final day of the festival – Mathilde Milwidsky and Rachel Roberts will perform works by Panufnik – Hora Bessarabia for violin and Canto for solo viola. Panufnik will also appear in conversation with Tom Hyde at the Assembly Rooms in Presteigne in the afternoon before the Festival Finale concert, which includes her popular Four World Seasons in the programme.
For the full events listing, more information and to purchase tickets, see here.
