Press Release:
Classical music remains festival's strong suit
Frome Festival's celebration of classical music this year welcomes the largest Summer School in its seven-year history.
More than 250 singers and players will come together during the last weekend of the festival to learn Brahms's choral masterpiece A German Requiem and Saint Saens's Symphony No.3 .
The hard work culminates in two performances conducted by Bath Philharmonia's Jason Thornton at The Cheese & Grain on Sunday 15 July, starting 4pm and 8pm. [click for programme detail]
Afterwards, the production goes on tour to France, performing two concerts in Paris and Frome's twin town, Château-Gontier.
This year, Gavin Carr, music director of Athaenum Singers of Warminster, joins the Summer School for the time first as baritone and chorus master.
Last month (April), Carr made his debut with the English Chamber Orchestra at Bath Abbey and later this month (May), he will appear at the Wexford Opera Festival.
The Summer School also welcomes back Somerset Youth Orchestra, which last year performed Vaughan Williams's A Sea Symphony and Lizst's Piano Concerto No.2, with pianist Peter Donohoe.
Festival director Martin Bax said: "Frome seems to be a magnet for classical artists. I am delighted with the range of this year's concerts.
"I am particularly pleased with the overwhelming response to this year's Summer School and chuffed to bits that this will be the first production taken to one of Frome's twin towns."
Conductor Jason Thornton described the Summer School as the highlight of his musical year. "It is great working with a combination of young or old performers.
"The hardest part is bringing a lot of people together in a short space of time. The choir and orchestra meet for the first time on the day of the performance!
"This is one chance in the year to see something truly monumental. It is always a great occasion and a fantastic finale to the festival," he said.
Brahms's Requiem will be performed with a chorus of 170 and an orchestra of approximately 80. Written between 1865 and 1868, the work is considered a choral masterpiece. Unlike other requiems of the time, Brahms wrote the libretto based on Martin Luther's German Protestant Bible rather than the Latin text of the traditional Roman Catholic mass.
Saint Saens's organ symphony was one of the most dramatic pieces written in the 19th century and featured in Hollywood film Babe. The film was based on a story written by former farmer turned children's author Dick King-Smith, who appeared at the Frome Festival in 2005.
Thornton has a busy lead up to the Frome Festival. He performs with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra for the first time at the Exeter Festival in June, conducting Schubert's Symphony No.9 and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto , with BBC Young Musician of the Year Jennifer Pike.
The same month, he directs Bath Summer Classics, a series of concerts featuring international soloists Carlos Bonell, Tasmin Little, Michael Collins, Sumi Jo and Frome Festival's artist in residence last year, Peter Donohoe.
During the festival, Thornton also conducts Bath Philharmonia's Ensemble at a gala evening with this year's artist in residence, Michael Pennington. Words and Music for a Midsummer Evening at the Merlin Theatre on Sunday 8 July sees the orchestra's wind section perform work from Mendelssohn and Mozart between readings from Magic Flute and A Midsummer's Night Dream. [click for programme detail]
Pennington also appears in a celebration of the Elizabethan era at Longleat House on Friday 13 July at 7.30pm. Mirth and Melancholy: Music from a Golden Age sees one of England 's most acclaimed Shakespearean actors perform poetry set to lute and virginal. [click for programme detail]
Elsewhere, the festival's classical line-up includes Bath Camerata performing Rachmaninov's Vespers by candlelight at St John's Church on Saturday 7 July at 9.45pm. Former King's Singer Nigel Perrin directs a condensed version of the traditional a cappella choral work, which was one of Rachmaninov's two favourite compositions. The composer requested that the fifth movement be played at his funeral. [click for programme detail]
Jackdoors Music Education Trust stages two concerts during the festival. Following a successful US tour, violinist Paul Barritt and pianist James Lisney perform a recital at Rook Lane Chapel on Saturday 7 July at 7.30pm. [click for programme detail] Promising soprano Suzanne Manuell and pianist Anthony Seddon present a song recital at Great Elm Church on Sunday 8 July at 3pm. [click for programme detail]
St Mary's Church at Orchardleigh again hosts two concerts during the festival. As part of this year's Thinking Green theme concert-goers will be able to walk to the first concert performed by Frome classical guitarist Denian Arcoleo on Sunday 8 July at 2.30pm. [click for programme detail]
In the second concert on Sunday 15 July at 2.30pm, Arcoleo's wife Helen joins him on flute under the performing name Domani. [click for programme detail]
Frome Symphony again graces the festival, with a mixture of Mendelssohn and Grieg at Holy Trinity Church on Monday 9 July at 7.30pm. Frome composer David Hynds also conducts his own Three Ellendig Gelegenheid.[click for programme detail]
Click here for a list of all Classical Events in the Frome Festival 2007
For additional information about the events mentioned in this Press Release click on the Event Titles below.
