A warm welcome for our Festival friends and followers to the 2021 Royal Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival. I hope very much that you will join me in supporting the attractive concerts and events that comprise this year’s Festival.
A notable feature will be the two concerts given during the October Festival month by the RTW Symphony Orchestra that this year is celebrating its centenary. Our congratulations to the RTWSO and we look forward to enjoying their two highly attractive concerts.
ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH PIANIST FREDDY KEMPF
Sunday 3rd October, 3.00pm, Assembly Hall Theatre, TN1 2LU
Roderick Dunk conducts the first Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra concert (Great Orchestral Classics) of the 2021-22 season with internationally renowned pianist Freddy Kempf playing Brahms’ mighty Piano Concerto No.2 and the concert starts with Wagner’s magnificent Tannhauser Overture.
Sunday 31st October, 3.00pm, Assembly Hall Theatre, TN1 2LU
The second RTWSO concert (Invitation to the Dance) will be the closing event of our 2021 Festival and features Barry Wordsworth, Principal Guest Conductor of The Royal Ballet, and violin soloist Thomas Gould in a programme of dance-inspired music, from Weber’s apotheosis of the waltz to Falla’s use of the folk music of Andalusia, via the tangos of Astor Piazzalla.
Tickets from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or Box Office 01892 530613
The middle section of the 2021 Festival features delightful chamber music. As usual, these concerts are held at King Charles the Martyr Church, with its lovely acoustic qualities and are always a key attraction at our Festivals. With programmes inspired by Rupert Preston Bell (pictured above), this year is no exception.
FABULOUS FABLES – BERENGERE MAUDUIT AND JENNY VIZINET
Sunday 10th October, 3.30pm, King Charles the Martyr TN1 1YX
The Festival’s 2021 collaboration with KCM includes a relaxed Family Concert: Fabulous Fables which, enjoyably, explores Aesop’s Fables with French Mezzo-Soprano Berengere Mauduit and pianist Jenny Vizinet. So bring your family to this jolly journey of exploration - for children of all ages, from age 5 to pensioner grandparents!
Tickets £10 and £5 (under-18s) from www.ticketsource.co.uk/mkctw
CHELYS VIOL CONSORT – CONSORT MUSIC FOR SIX VIOLS
Saturday 16th October, 7pm, King Charles the Martyr TN1 1YX
An exploration of 16th and 17th century repertory for viol consort -- from Tallis to Purcell. And it is another fascinating musical journey for us to explore in the wonderful KCM environment for classical music that has so impressed top international calibre musicians.
Tickets £15 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/mkctw
MICHAEL McHALE - LUNCHTIME PIANO RECITAL
Saturday 23rd October, 12pm, King Charles the Martyr TN1 1YX
Michael McHale is one of the most impressive rising-star talents in the music world. Whether he is performing at Wigmore Hall or at the BBC Proms or around the UK and Ireland or in Suntory Hall, Tokyo or across USA concert halls, Michael’s beautiful playing has a heart-warming quality that has touched his many worldwide admirers. His one hour recital will encompass music by Beethoven (Sonata in C minor op.13 “Pathetique”, Debussy (Estampes 11. La Soiree dans Grenade; Jardins sous la pluie), Field (Nocturne N0.10 in E minor; Nocturne No.5 in B flat), Chopin (Nocturne in E flat op.9 no.2), Liszt (Rigoletto “paraphrase de concert”). So, whether shopping, visiting or heading to lunch in RTW, do take in this one hour musical “tour de force” and head away with a spring in your step!
Vaughan Williams Film Screening “O Thou Transcendent” - A Film by Tony Palmer
This film of RVW’s life and music with a talk by the multi Emmy and BAFTA winning Tony Palmer will be shown later as a Post Festival Treat! We shall post details on the Festival website.
Enjoy the 2021 Royal Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival!
Michael Waggett, Festival Chairman
