2009 FESTIVAL DATES:

9-23 MAY 2009

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

 

 

Mark Eynon
Festival Director

 

 

This website was created with financial support from Arts Council England and the Colefax Charitable Trust.

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