Summer festivals

Back from an inspiring summer playing for various summer festivals – such a rich and important part of the British musical calendar. From the rural and picturesque Etchingham Festival – playing Brahms, Bridge and Schumann piano quartets with the Wieck Ensemble – to the heart of the City of London with St Lawrence Jewry Summer Music Festival – piano duets of Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven with Sholto Kynoch; from the long-established Dartington – Mozart, Berkeley and Poulenc music for winds and piano with the Berkeley Ensemble – to the new kid on the block, Southwell Music Festival, featuring a Schubertiade with Alison Rose, Nick Pritchard, and festival director Marcus Farnsworth, and then, perhaps the summer’s highlight, the Rite of Spring in its duet form with James Baillieu (lots of feedback, live commenting and photos available on their Twitter page, @Southwell_Music). Festivals are such a key chance for musicians to gather in different places, be inspired by their surroundings, their colleagues, and above all, the music. Thank you to those who make them happen!