PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS 2022
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Scroll down this page for event by event listing.
Free Downloadable 2022 Festival brochure and Complete Programme Book. Click on image to open:
BROCHURE
PROGRAMME
EVENT 1
HERTFORDSHIRE FESTIVAL
COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND
Thursday 2 June 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Join the Hertfordshire Festival of Music Concert Band in the beautiful grounds of Hertford Castle to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 70th Jubilee, and pay tribute to the Festival’s Co-Artistic director, the late Tom Hammond. The programme includes Handel’s rousing Music for the Royal Fireworks as well as Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Padstow Lifeboat’ and favourite John Williams film scores.
The band brings together community musicians who played with Tom in the Hertford Symphony Orchestra and St Albans Symphony Orchestra with Radlett’s Phoenix Concert Band and their conductor, Chris McGinity.
This bank holiday outdoor concert is part of Hertford Town Council’s Castle Open Day marking the Jubilee between 12 noon and 4pm.
GROUNDS OF HERTFORD CASTLE SG14 1HR
Admission: Free
EVENT 2
ONYX BRASS IN RECITAL
Thursday 2 June, 7.30pm to 9.00pm
‘fantastic classical brass quintet, their virtuosity is absolutely staggering…They are brilliant!’
Sarah Walker, Sunday Morning, BBC Radio 3
With music from Handel and Bach to Shostakovich and Gershwin this handful of consummate musicians perform a thrilling assortment of brass classics - including Malcolm Arnold’s brilliant and ever popular Brass Quintet no. 1 from 1961.
HITCHIN TOWN HALL, BRAND STREET, HITCHIN, SG5 1HX
Tickets: £20 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
EVENT 3
JUBILEE CHORAL CELEBRATION
William Whitehead (Organ)
Manvinder Rattan (Musical Director)
Jane Eldred & Martin Penny (Conductors)
Friday 3rd June, 5.30pm - 7.00pm
What could be a more uplifting experience than to join us in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as we hear music from the original, 1953 service alongside rousing and patriotic favourites from Parry, Walton, Handel and Purcell.
No fewer than three local choirs join forces for the first time in a programme interspersed with evocative and reflective solos from local star-organist William Whitehead. This is sure to be an historic and memorable occasion for all.
Programme includes: Parry - I was Glad, Handel - Zadok the Priest and Will Todd - The Call of Wisdom.
Featuring:
Choir of All Saints’, Hertford
Choir of Hertford St Andrew
Hertford Chamber Choir
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, QUEEN'S ROAD, HERTFORD, SG13 8AY
Tickets: £18/£13 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
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EVENT 4
ZRI: ADVENTURES WITH CHARLIE CHAPLIN
Friday 3 June, 9.00pm – 10.30pm
Part concert, part film screening with live score, ZRI bring all their flair and energy to Charlie Chaplin's early classic 'The Adventurer', including tunes by Django Reinhardt and Georges Boulanger.
This ground-breaking ensemble takes the listener to the exciting melting pot of early 20th-century New York where jazz, klezmer and classical music intertwined with film soundtracks. ZRI match the wit, virtuosity and sheer brilliance of Chaplin in his creative prime.
CORN EXCHANGE, 39 FORE STREET, HERTFORD, SG14 1AL
Tickets £20 seated plus booking fee (limited space – please book early)
EVENT 5
FANTASIES AND DANCES for FLUTE AND GUITAR
Emma Halnan (flute)
Jack Hancher (guitar)
Saturday 4 June, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
MARIO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
MALCOLM ARNOLD
DAVID MATTHEWS
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA
The combination of flute and guitar is captivating – especially in the hands of these Hertfordshire-based musical luminaries. This entrancing recital contrasts the work of two visionary English composers with two Latin masterpieces of the genre, culminating in Piazzolla’s vibrant romp through the world of that most vivacious dance-form, the Tango!
CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, HIGH STREET, WARE, HERTS, SG12 9EH
Tickets: £15 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
Sonatina for flute and guitar op. 205
Fantasy for solo guitar
Dance for Emma (world première)
Histoire du Tango
EVENT 6
MEET THE COMPOSER:
DAVID MATTHEWS IN CONVERSATION
Saturday 4 June, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
‘Few other living composers can deploy the classical virtues of clarity, tradition and restraint to such cogent ends’ - Tempo
David Matthews discusses his life and work with fellow composer James Francis Brown. Since working as Benjamin Britten’s assistant in the 1960s this remarkable composer has forged a reputation as one of the UK’s most significant symphonists. Matthews’s music unashamedly embraces his own brand of tonality, and he retains a firm commitment to a music that is grounded in song and dance and is connected to the vernacular.
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, 50 RAILWAY ST., HERTFORD, SG14 1BA
FREE event. Please register for your free ticket via the box office.
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EVENT 7
HERTFORDSHIRE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Saturday 4 June, 6.00pm - 7.30pm
Bach’s Suite with its ever popular ‘Air for the G string’ is one of the most celebrated works of the Baroque era. In this version from 1730, Bach brings oboes, trumpets and kettledrums into the fold – to stunning effect! This glorious work is preceded by a work by our Featured Living Composer, David Matthews. Described by the Guardian as ‘…irrepressibly charming…’ this evocative work is flanked by two brilliant and highly distinctive concertos by Malcolm Arnold played by two eminent musicians from Hertfordshire, Emma Halnan and William Whitehead.
The programme was conceived by the late Tom Hammond and is conducted by his close friend Matthew Taylor, in tribute to our much-loved Co-Artistic Director and Festival founder.
Matthew Taylor – conductor
Emma Halnan – flute
William Whitehead – organ
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, QUEEN'S ROAD, HERTFORD, SG13 8AY
Tickets: £25/£15 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
Concerto No.1 for Flute & Strings
Three Birds and a Farewell
Organ Concerto
Orchestral Suite in D major BWV 1068
MALCOLM ARNOLD
DAVID MATTHEWS
MALCOLM ARNOLD
J S BACH
EVENT 8
WORKSHOP:
INTRODUCING THE BAROQUE & RENAISSANCE
TRUMPET
Adrian Woodward - trumpet
Monday 6 June, 6.45pm - 8.15pm
In a fascinating perspective of musical times past, period instrument specialist Adrian Woodward demonstrates the beauty and versatility of an instrument as commonly used in the creation of ‘high art’ as the sobering signals of war.
Selected participants discover how to produce the necessary sounds with the aid of three natural trumpets and mouthpieces as well as seven cavalry trumpets!
The workshop is open to the public, but space is limited so please book early.
MID HERTS MUSIC CENTRE, BIRCHWOOD AVENUE, HATFIELD, AL10 0PS
FREE event. Please register for your free ticket via the box office.
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EVENT 9
MAGGINI STRING QUARTET
Tuesday 7 June, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Mozart’s famous ‘Dissonance’ quartet, considered one of the greatest quartets of all time, is contrasted with two twentieth-century works that are fast becoming classics in their own right. Continuing the HFoM tradition of inviting the most renowned string quartets to perform, we welcome the Maggini quartet to the Festival for the first time.
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, ST ANDREW STREET, HERTFORD, SG14 1HZ
Tickets: £20 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
W A MOZART
DAVID MATTHEWS
MALCOLM ARNOLD
Quartet in C major K465 ‘Dissonance’
String Quartet No. 6
String Quartet 2
EVENT 10
SOUNDBITES:
MATHILDE MILWIDSKY & HUW WATKINS
IN RECITAL
Mathilde Milwidsky - violin
Huw Watkins - piano
Wednesday 8 June, 1:00pm - 1:55pm
Mathilde Milwidsky has done much to rehabilitate the standing of the remarkable composer, Agnes Zimmermann (1847-1925) and this major work is a triumph of Romanticism. Joined by pianist Huw Watkins, a major British composer in his own right, we’ll hear a work by him written in response to the pandemic, mirroring two charming vignettes by our Featured Living Composer, David Matthews.
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, QUEEN'S ROAD, HERTFORD, SG13 8AY
Light refreshments are available for purchase from 12 noon.
FREE EVENT: donations welcome.
W A MOZART
DAVID MATTHEWS
AGNES ZIMMERMANN
HUW WATKINS
BÉLA BARTÓK
Rondo in C major, K.373
Preludes II & V from Fifteen Preludes for solo violin Op. 132
Violin Sonata no 3 in G minor, Op. 23
Arietta for violin and piano
Six Romanian Dances for violin and piano (arr. Szekely)
EVENT 11
A SINGING CELEBRATION
WITH HERTFORD SCHOOLS
Continuing our collaboration with Hertfordshire Music Service, HFoM is working towards an inspiring project with composer, pianist and animateur Adam Saunders, to take place later this year.
EVENT 12
BEN GOLDSCHEIDER: A MASTERCLASS
Thursday 9 June, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Internationally renowned horn player Ben Goldscheider gives a masterclass for young and aspiring players of the instrument. A masterclass can be just as rewarding for the audience as for the participants, so don’t miss this chance to discover how a world-class musician considers the minutiae of their art.
ERNEST READ HALL, QUEENSWOOD SCHOOL, SHEPHERDS WAY, BROOKMANS PARK, HATFIELD, AL9 6NS
Daniel Swain - accompanist
FREE event. Please register for your free ticket via the box office.
If you are unable to attend the masterclass in person, the event will be livestreamed. To register for the free livestream link please email festivalmanager@hertsmusicfest.org.uk by 5pm on Wednesday 8 June.
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EVENT 13
BEN GOLDSCHEIDER & RICHARD UTTLEY
IN RECITAL
Thursday 9 June, 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Ben Goldscheider - horn
Richard Uttley - piano
With an eclectic programme ranging from Beethoven’s youthful work of 1800 through to the present-day piece by Mark Simpson, we hear why Ben Goldscheider is one of today’s most coveted young artists. Belgian composer Jane Vignery’s sparkling and virtuosic sonata of 1948 brings this recital with pianist Richard Uttley to an uplifting conclusion.
QUEENSWOOD SCHOOL CHAPEL, SHEPHERDS WAY, BROOKMANS PARK, HATFIELD, AL9 6NS
Tickets: £15 plus booking fee. Concessions available
MALCOLM ARNOLD
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
MARK SIMPSON
ROBERT SCHUMANN
JANE VIGNERY
Fantasy for solo horn (1966)
Horn Sonata in F major, Op. 17
Nachtstück for horn and piano
Adagio and Allegro in A flat, Op.70
Sonata for horn and piano, Op.7
EVENT 14
FOLK TALES FOR FIVE WINDS
GOLDSCHEIDER QUINTET & RUTH ROSALES
Friday 10 June, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Animateur Ruth Rosales narrates some enchanting yet salutary tales from childhood by Ruth Gipps and Ravel, the latter in a newly dramatized version by Bernard Hughes of ‘Not now Bernard!’ fame. In a fabulous programme of special arrangements and original compositions, Ben Goldscheider and friends show us why wind instruments can be the best storytellers of all.
ST SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, SANDPIT LANE, ST ALBANS, AL1 4DF
Tickets: £20 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
RUTH GIPPS
MAURICE RAVEL/BERNARD HUGHES
GYÖRGY LIGETI
MALCOLM ARNOLD
MAURICE RAVEL
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Uncle Maurice and Mother Goose
Six Bagatelles
Three Shanties for Wind Quintet Le Tombeau de Couperin
EVENTS 15 & 16
GUY JOHNSTON & HUW WATKINS:
BEETHOVEN - COMPLETE CELLO SONATAS
Saturday 11 June
Guy Johnston – cello
Huw Watkins – piano
Born in Hertfordshire, Guy Johnston has secured a reputation as one of the finest cellists of his generation and, when partnered by Huw Watkins, we can expect profound interpretations of these daring and increasingly visionary masterpieces by Beethoven. A marvellous way to bring the 2022 Festival to a close.
ST NICHOLAS CHURCH, CHURCH GREEN, HARPENDEN, AL5 2TP
Tickets: £20/£15 plus booking fee. Concessions available.
If tickets for both recitals bought together - £30 for both in nave and £25 for both in aisles
Ruth Gipps
THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL
MUSIC IN MIND – LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
During the Festival period, specially trained musicians share the gift of music with selected care homes throughout the county of Hertfordshire via interactive online sessions for people living with dementia, including their carers and families. For those living with the condition, participating in music can bring not only an improvement in symptoms, but a sense of joy and elation for those taking part.
In collaboration with Sing from the Heart