23 - 28 June 2015

Box Office: 0844 8700 887(5p per minute, lo call rate)

Advance ticket service including credit card bookings

www.ticketsource.co.uk/machen

www.lowermachenfestival.co.uk

ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS’ CHURCH,LOWER MACHEN

AND

THE RIVERFRONT CENTRE · NEWPORT

WelcomeLower Machen Festival takes on an international flavour this year with a series of themed concerts celebrating many distinguished composers, soloists and ensembles. Each concert has a particular country or nationality underpinning the programme. We are again happy to be hosting the festival at two venues The Riverfront, Newport for daytime events and St Michael and All Angels, Lower Machen.

We are delighted to welcome two artists in residence this year, pianist Sunwook Kim and trumpeter Matilda Lloyd. As part of our vision for the festival we have been keen to create innovative partnerships between young and established artists and Matilda will be appearing as trumpet soloist with The Welsh Chamber Players as well as her solo recital at the Riverfront. Internationally renowned pianist Sunwook Kim joins the Heath String Quartet for the final concert and also gives the festival piano recital including music by Scriabin celebrating his centenary this year. Another centenary is celebrated by the Armonico Consort who perform Rachmaninoff’s atmospheric Vespers 100 years after its first performance.

Always wanting to give a platform to Welsh musicians we are pleased to welcome back violin/viola soloist Matthew Jones with his wife and highly acclaimed pianist Annabel Thwaite and Judith Souter who will be leading the Little Notes Family Concert.

Royal harpist Hannah Stone returns to the festival following her last appearance in 2010 this time with her trio, the La Mer Trio, who perform in many festivals through the UK.

We continue our series of late night concerts, but this year the performance takes place outside the church with “Magical Midsummer”, a series of short pieces written for the Adventus Saxophone Quartet by local composers reflecting the ambience of the church and its surroundings.

This year all the main evening concerts start at 7.30pm and we have three pre-concert talks given by Dr Caroline Rae and Peter Reynolds. There are many attractive offers to try and keep ticket prices to a minimum and students and children under 16 can buy tickets for evening concerts for just £1.

Lower Machen is a rural idyll – just nineteen houses (no shop, not even a pub!) with an incomparably beautiful small church, blessed with a perfect acoustic. Our aim is the highest possible quality of music-making in an atmosphere that brings together what a member of our audience recently described as “a unique atmosphere, in which setting and music complement each other perfectly – the ideal way to spend a summer’s evening.”

Midsummer has always been a time for celebration and we hope that you’ll make the most of the long days and evenings that stretch before us and join us for a celebration of musical talent. We cannot guarantee the weather but we can guarantee an enjoyable musical evening in unforgettable surroundings!

A warm welcome awaits you.Peter and Alison EsswoodArtistic Directors

Please note: The gardens of Machen House and drinks marquee will be open before and during the interval of each concert by kind permission

of Mrs Mary Adams.

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Sunday 21st June 11.15am

Festival ServiceA midsummer celebration in words and music.

Tuesday 23rd June 1pmThe Riverfront, Newport

BRITISH RECITAL

Matthew Jones – viola/violin

Annabel Thwaite – pianoBritten – Three Pieces from ‘Suite’ op.6 for Violin and Piano (15’)

Britten – Elegy for Solo Viola (6’)

Bridge – Four Pieces for Viola and Piano (12’)

Rebecca Clarke – Viola Sonata (22’)

Welsh violin/viola soloist Matthew Jones returns to the Lower Machen Festival with highly acclaimed pianist Annabel Thwaite to present a programme of fine British music, including works from their award-winning Naxos CD of Benjamin Britten, named ‘Chamber CD of the Month’ by BBC Music magazine. Described by ‘Fanfare’ as ‘the finest violist since William Primrose’, Matthew has recorded twenty discs and is Professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Annabel has won numerous accompanying prizes, performs as soloist and chamber musician in major venues around the world and has collaborated with such artists as Roberto Alagna and Bryn Terfel. Together they perform a programme highlighting the richness and variety of British works for violin/viola and piano, from the genius of Britten’s early Suite and the exquisite melodies of Frank Bridge, to the passion of Rebecca Clarke’s finest composition.Price: £5.50 Concessions: £4.50

Tuesday 23rd June 7.30pmSt Michael & All Angels Church Lower Machen

GERMAN EVENING

The Feinstein EnsembleMartin Feinstein – Director/solo flute/recorderCatherine Manson – solo violinRobin Bigwood – solo harpsichord

Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No.5 BWV1050 (23’)

Mozart – Salzburg Divertimento in F K138 (11’)

Handel – Water Music Suite in G (10’)

Telemann – Concerto for recorder, two violins and continuo in D minor TWV43 ( 9’)

Handel – Concerto Grosso in B op.6 No.7 (17’)

Telemann – Recorder Concerto in C TWV51 (16’)

Specialising in the historically accurate performance of music from the 18th century, the Feinstein Ensemble’s concerts and recordings of the Baroque repertoire have been acclaimed internationally. They open the festival’s evening concerts with a programme of mostly German compositions including the famous water music and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 5.

The Ensemble performs frequently in London, including a festival of Bach at Southbank Centre each March and an Autumn season of Cantata concerts at St Martin-in-the-fields. International tours have included the Far East, Germany, the Gulf and Egypt, Israel, Belgium and Holland. In 2007 they were invited by BBC Television to broadcast a groundbreaking documentary and performance of all six Brandenburg Concerti.

“I’ve heard the Brandenburg Concertos so many times, and in so many contexts. Yet what the Feinstein Ensemble did with them had revelatory freshness.” THE INDEPENDENT

Tickets £16 (£13 in advance) concessions £13 (£10 in advance) Students and Under 16s £1

ANNABEL THWAITE & MATTHEW JONES

ROBIN BIGWOODMARTIN FEINSTEINCATHERINE MANSON

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Wednesday 24th June 1pmThe Riverfront Newport

Matilda Lloyd – trumpet ‘Finalist BBC Young Musician 2014’Jonathan Morell – piano

Henry Purcell – Sonata in D (5’) Georges Enescu – Legende (6’)

Kent Kennan – Sonata (16’)

Alan Hovhaness – Prayer for St. Gregory (6‘)

Sammy Nestico – Portrait of a Trumpet (6’)

George Gershwin – Three Preludes (7’)

2014 was a busy year for Matilda Lloyd, when she won both the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Award and the Brass Category of the BBC Young Musician of the Year aged 18. Her programme features some of the most exciting repertoire from solo trumpet and she is accompanied by pianist Jonathan Morell.Price: £5.50 Concessions: £4.50

Wednesday 24th June 7.30pmSt Michael & All Angels Church Lower Machen(6.30pm: Pre Concert Talk given by Dr Caroline Rae)

FRENCH EVENING

La Mer TrioRenate Sokolovska – fluteMaja Wegrzynowska – violaHannah Stone – harp

Jean-Marie Leclair – Sonata in D major op.3 No.6 (12’)

Henriette Renié – Legende – solo harp (11’)

Timothy Raymond – Memorare (10’)

Maurice Ravel – Sonatine (12’)

Maurice Ravel – Le Tombeau de Couperin (10’)

Thomas Oehler – Tryptique-11 (11’)

Claude Debussy – Sonate pour flûte, alto et harpe (18’)

La Mer Trio comprises of Renate Sokolovska on flute, Maja Wegrzynowska on viola and Hannah Stone, the appointed Royal Harpist to HRH Prince of Wales. La Mer Trio was formed in 2010 in London when three soloists and multi-awards winning musicians joined forces. As a trio they are rapidly gaining a reputation at festivals and concert halls in the UK for their virtuosity, musical imagination and innovative approach to the repertoire and its distinctive interpretation.

The French flavoured programme draws on a range of tonal colours with some of the best loved French composers along with the opportunity to hear new music for the ensemble in Timothy Raymond’s evocative Memorare and Thomas Oehler’s Celtic Tryptique.

Tickets £16 (£13 in advance) concessions £13 (£10 in advance) Students and Under 16s £1 to include Pre Concert Talk

Thursday 25 June, 7.30pmSt Michael’s Church, Lower Machen

ITALIAN EVENING

Elin Manahan Thomas – soprano

Robin Blaze – counter tenor

Matilda Lloyd – trumpet

Welsh Chamber Players

Peter Esswood– conductor

Respighi – Antiche danze et arie per liuto Suite No.3 (16’)

Puccini – Crisantemi (6’)

Torelli – Concerto in D (8’)

Pergolesi – Stabat Mater (40’)

The Welsh Chamber Players return to the festival to take us on an Italian journey featuring Respighi’s reflective “Airs and Dances” and Puccini’s’ beautiful Crisantemi written for string ensemble. Matilda Lloyd joins the ensemble to perform on the piccolo trumpet in a concerto by Torelli one of the most prolific Baroque composers for the trumpet. Distinguished singers Elin Manahan Thomas and Robin Blaze complete the line up as soloists in Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, his most celebrated sacred work. The opening movement was described by Jean-Jacques Rousseau “the most perfect and touching duet to come from the pen of any composer.”Tickets £16 (£13 in advance) concessions £13 (£10 in advance) Students and Under 16s £1

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LA MER TRIO

MATILDA LLOYD

ELIN MANAHAN THOMAS

ROBIN BLAZE

WELSH CHAMBER PLAYERS with PETER ESSWOOD

Friday 26th June 7.30pmSt Michael & All Angels Church Lower Machen(6.30pm: Pre Concert Talk given by Peter Reynolds)

RUSSIAN EVENING

Armonico ConsortChristopher Monks – Director

Rachmaninoff – Vespers All-Night Vigil op.37 (75’)

The Armonico Consort Soloists perform the deeply moving and reflective All-Night Vigil, an extraordinary collection of pieces set to liturgical text from the Russian Orthodox Church. As a composer better known for his large orchestral works and the colour and virtuosity of his concertos, the Vespers, for a cappella 12 part choir is written in an astounding style which could itself be described as symphonic. Sublime melodies and intricate rhythms paired with the colourful Russian script have made the Vespers timelessly moving, with a truly unique style of choral writing.

As the composer himself said, ‘Even in my wildest dreams I could not have imagined that I would write such a work’.Tickets £16 (£13 in advance) concessions £13 (£10 in advance) Students and Under 16s £1

Friday 26th June 10pmSt Michael & All Angels Church Lower MachenLATE NIGHT CONCERT

MAGICAL MIDSUMMER

Adventus Saxophone QuartetJoshua Jones, Sophie Jenkins, Alice Atkinson, Naomi Bayley – saxophones

A concert of supernatural airs is coming to Lower Machen so prepare yourself for especially prepared, spellbinding new works. In the shadow of the old church four saxophones will cast mystery on all who hear their siren song. The upcoming Adventus Quartet will help the composers portray stories of ghosts, spirits and legends of old. Experience a Late Night concert like no other in a promenade setting that is sure to cast a ghostly chill.Attenders are advised to bring a torch for safety reasons. Price: £5.50 Concessions: £4.50 Students and Under 16s £1 To include Pre Concert Talk

Saturday 27th June 11am

The Riverfront – Newport

Little Notes Family Concert Little Notes Family Concerts will treat you to an innovative classical concert for babies, tots and their carers to enjoy together. Featuring world-class performances for the enjoyment of all ages, and lasting fifty minutes, come and hear exhilarating performances by outstanding musicians with your children in tow. Children can dance, roam about, and listen to music the way they feel it. They will sing some well known songs, listen to the delights of classic composers and be inspired as they observe real musicians play real instruments.

We look forward to welcoming Teddy Bears to this concert.Price: £5.50 Reductions: £4.50 Under 2’s FREE Family ticket: £15 (2 adults & 2 children)

Saturday 27th June 7.30pmSt Michael & All Angels Church Lower Machen(6.30pm: Pre Concert Talk given by Dr Caroline Rae)

KOREAN EVENING

Sunwook Kim – pianoBach – Partita No.2 in C minor BWV826 (15)’

Scriabin – Piano Sonata op.23 No.3 (18’)

Schubert – Piano Sonata in B major D960 (40’)

Sunwook Kim came to international recognition when he won the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006, aged just 18, becoming the competition’s youngest winner for 40 years, as well as its first Asian winner. His programme begins with the dances of Bach’s 2nd Partita and Scriabin’s virtuosic 3rd Piano Sonata culminating with Schubert’s monumental piano sonata in B flat which portrays a range of emotions probing the depth of human mortality. Pianist Claudio Arrau once remarked “this is a work written in the proximity of death … one feels it from the very first theme … the breaking off, and the silence after a long mysterious trill in the bass“. The slow movement mirrors that of the great String Quartet in C D956, composed during the same period with some remarkable key changes leading to an exciting scherzo and triumphant final movement.

Tickets £16 (£13 in advance) concessions £13 (£10 in advance) Students and Under 16s £1 To include Pre Concert Talk

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SUNWOOK KIM

ADVENTUS SAXOPHONE QUARTET

ARMONICO CONSORT

HOW TO BOOKBy Phone Contact our advance ticket service Ticket source Box Office Line on 0844 8700 887 The telephone box office service will be available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 7pm, Saturday, 9.00am to 5pm. Calls received outside of these hours will operate on an answerphone and call back facility. All major credit cards accepted.

Online Tickets can be bought on line from www.ticketsource.co.uk/machen

Tickets will be on sale for evening concerts until 2pm on the afternoon of the performance. At that point any unsold tickets will be available to purchase at the door.

Ticket Discounts Tickets £16 (£13 in advance).

Concessions Available to disabled people and their companion if requiring accompaniment £13 concessions £10 in advance. Children and full time students £1.

WAYS TO SAVEBook one of the following packages for the best savings: Available in advance only

All Festival Events in Riverfront and St Michael’s Church £86 (saving £32 on door prices) Full Week of Evening Concerts in Advance for £80 (Saving £21.50 on door prices) All 7 concerts in St Michaels and All Angels Church.Weekend Saver Book for all events in St Michael’s Church Friday – Sunday 4 concerts for £40 (Saving £13.50 on door prices).Tickets for the Riverfront concerts can also be booked directly with the venue Box Office 01633 656757 www.newport.gov.uk/riverfront

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Disabled Access The Lower Machen Festival welcomes disabled visitors. Access into and within the church is suitable for wheelchair users and semi-ambulant visitors. Disabled toilet facilities are available.

Text: Large print notes are available. Please ring in advance to let us know your requirements on 0844 8700 887All seats are unreserved at St Michael and All Angels’ Church. For those who want to select a particular seat please come to the church before going to explore the grounds of Machen House.

Doors open at 6.30pm.

Festival bar opens 6.30pm prior to evening concerts and during the interval. The bar will be open between the two concerts on Friday evening serving drinks and light refreshments.

Website: www.lowermachenfestival.co.uk Email: info@lowermachenfestival.co.uk

Sunday 28th June 7.30pm

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT

Heath Quartet with Sunwook Kim – pianoOliver Heath – violinCerys Jones – violin Gary Pomeroy – viola Christopher Murray – cello

Haydn – String Quartet op.76 No.1 in G major (21’)

Tchaikovsky – String Quartet No.1 in D major op.11 (28’)

Schumann – Piano Quintet op.44 in E major ( 30’)

Described by The Strad as giving ‘passionate performances that combine technical accomplishment with interpretative flair’, the Heath Quartet is rapidly emerging as an exciting and original voice on the international chamber music scene. Haydn’s op.76 quartets are generally recognised as the pinnacle of his writing in the genre and the G major quartet is almost orchestral in style taking us through some unusual conventions in tonality and characters. Although not viewed as a chamber composer, Tchaikovsky’s lyrical first quartet is regarded as a work of technical mastery, full of emotion and character. The famous melancholic slow movement is frequently performed as a concert work in its own right.

The quartet join forces with Sunwook Kim for Schumann’s uplifting piano quintet, considered one of the major works in the chamber music repertoire which brings the festival to a high spirited close.

Tickets £16 (£13 in advance) concessions £13 (£10 in advance) Students and Under 16s £1 To include Pre Concert Talk

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HEATH QUARTET

The Lower Machen Festival is grateful for supportfor this year’s festival from

Getting to Lower Machen

Lower Machen is just ten minutes’ drive away from Junction 28 of the M4 motorway.

By Car Lower Machen is situated on the A468 trunk road between Newport and Caerphilly. Postcode for Sat Nav NP10 8AG

Trains The nearest stations with bus links are Caerphilly and Newport. See www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk for details of timetables.

Bus Buses running between Newport and Caerphilly pass by Lower Machen. See www.traveline-cymru.org.uk for details of timetables.

Places to Stay Visit www.visitwales.com for details of accommodation in the area.

2015 FESTIVAL AT A GLANCEDate Time Event/Artist Programme Venue

Sunday 21 June

11.15am Festival Service St Michaels

Tuesday 23 June

1pm Matthew Jones violin/violaAnnabel Thwaite piano

Britten, Bridge, Clarke Riverfront

7.30pm The Feinstein Ensemble Bach, Mozart, Handel, Telemann

St Michaels

Wednesday 24 June

1pm Matilda Lloyd trumpetJonathan Morell piano

Purcell, Enescu, Gershwin, Kent Kennan

Riverfront

6.30pm Pre Concert Talk: Dr Caroline Rae

St Michaels

7.30pm La Mer Trio Leclair, Renié, Raymond, Ravel, Oehler, Debussy

St Michaels

Thursday 25 June

7.30pm Welsh Chamber PlayersElin Manahan ThomasRobin Blaze

Respighi, Torelli, Pergolesi, Puccini

St Michaels

Friday 26 June

6.30pm Pre Concert Talk: Peter Reynolds

St Michaels

7.30pm Armonico Consort Rachmaninoff Vespers St Michaels

Friday 26 June

9.45pm Magical Midsummer St Michaels

Saturday 27 June

11am Little Notes Family Concert

Riverfront

6.30pm Pre Concert Talk: Dr Caroline Rae

St Michaels

7.30pm Sunwook Kim piano Bach, Scriabin, Schubert

St Michaels

Sunday 28 June

7.30pm Sunwook Kim piano with The Heath Quartet

Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Schumann

St Michaels

Please note all evening concerts start at 7.30pm Details correct at time of going to press. Please visit website for most recent information

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