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2008 marks the 30th anniversary of Newbury Spring Festival
and after last year's English theme, this year we re-emphasised
our international credentials with a line up of artists from
around the globe joining some of the UK's finest for two
weeks of world-class music making and entertainment.
A new series of International Celebrity Recitals presented some
of the world's finest musicians: from Australia John Williams,
from the USA Emanuel Ax and from New Zealand Dame Gillian
Weir. We also welcomed four of the
world's great orchestras: the Russian State Symphony
Orchestra, the European Union Chamber Orchestra (featuring
the exceptional British cellist Natalie Clein), the English
Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic. In our
beautiful neighbouring churches and stately homes, chamber
groups from the Czech Republic, Austria and France
complemented some of the UK's finest ensembles.
We also heard some of Britain's finest voices: Sir John
Tomlinson an established opera star,
while Andrew Kennedy and Sally Matthews represent the
cream of the young generation and Clare Teal and Claire
Martin are among the best jazz voices of today. The male
voices of Morriston Orpheus Choir contrasted with Tenebrae and Ex Cathedra, in programmes of Russian Orthodox and
Latin American sacred music.
Our 2008 poet in residence is Keston Sutherland was commissioned to write a new piece for Sandham
Memorial Chapel to mark the 90th anniversary of the ending
of the First World War. To celebrate our 30th anniversary, the
Festival hosted its own resident company, Giffords
Circus, with their unique brand of English tradition and
international innovation, featuring performers from Russia,
Eastern Europe, France and the UK. Proir to the
final performance of Giffords Circus a parade of over 100 local children processed through the
town led by the mayor to celebrate 30 years of the Newbury
Spring Festival.
I hope to enjoyed this year's Festival as much as I did and I look forward to seeing you again in June next year.
Mark Eynon
Festival Director
This website was created with financial
support from Arts Council England and the
Colefax Charitable Trust. |
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