George Vass, the director of the Hampstead and Highgate Music Festival was the guest speaker at the Friends of the Music AGM in January. He gave a lively and entertaining talk while telling us of his plans for the forthcoming festival. This will take place over twelve days in May at a variety of venues and times. The main shape of the programme had already been established and most bookings had been made but some work still had to be done to book artists and agree concert programmes. It was already clear, however, that St. Johns-at-Hampstead would occupy a significant part in the arrangements as a venue for four of the concerts.
The Festival has been running for a number of years now but under George Vass its aims have been re- focussed. These are to provide a series of concerts in and around Hampstead and Highgate at which new music can be heard along with more familiar pieces; to provide opportunities for young performers and also for local resident performers to be heard. Last year, for example, John Lill, a local resident gave a recital in the parish church. The programme in 2004 included a number of works by Elgar who lived in Netherall Gardens for about nine years. This year we will be able to hear works by William Walton who was also a local resident for a short time.
In addition to all the music that can be heard there will also be a showing of a film at the Everyman of the life and work of Walton. A high point of the festival for many people last year was the screening of Ken Russell’s film on Elgar preceded by a discussion with Humphrey Burton, the producer of the original BBC Monitor programme. A wonderful example of the way in which music and film can complement each other.
The music of David Matthews, a contemporary composer will be given prominence this year and we can look forward to some really enjoyable evenings.
While reflecting on the wonderful music we heard in the church last year I was struck by the inclusive nature of these events. The church was almost full on those May evenings and provided a warm welcome to many people from elsewhere and of different faiths who made up the audiences. |Our church is, as we know, an inspiration for our worship but it was good to overhear so many appreciative comments on the beauty of St. John-at-Hampstead , on its appropriateness as a concert venue and as the place where so much good music was being played and heard.
The Festival concerts will start at the Parish church on 12 May with a Celebrity piano recital by Ralph Kirshbaum. This will be followed on 16 May with a performance by the Dante Quartet. On 17th May local youth choirs will be performing. The Festival ends with a concert to be given by the Hampstead and Highgate Festival Orchestra to be conducted by George Vass. We are privileged to be able to hear so much wonderful music during the Festival and even more so hear it in our own church. There will, however, be much more to be heard elsewhere including new music we might never have heard before as well as more familiar pieces. The full Festival programme will be published in March and copies will then be available at the back of the church.
I hope you enjoy the Festival; I am sure you will.