16 February 2017
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Barnes
This two-week festival, in the Barnes district of London, showcases musicians Tasmin Little and Roxanna Panufnik, plus lots more
5th Anniversary Year
Festival Theme: ‘Music And Place’
Celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Barnes Music Festival – an annual event that constantly punches above its weight in terms of artistic performance and breadth of vision. Barnes has long since had a close association with musical excellence and its residents are proud of the area’s rich musical heritage. Barnes was the first place where Handel resided in 1711 when he arrived in London and many other leading composers have since made their home there, including Carl Davis; Stephen Dodgson; Gustav Holst; Herbert Howells and Jim Parker – not to forget Festival Patrons Howard Goodall and Roxanna Panufnik.
‘It's incredible how the small enclave of Barnes has such an astonishing breadth of talent across all art forms - I am hugely proud to support a festival that champions this and connects us with the wider musical life of the UK, and beyond.’ Roxanna Panufnik
Artistic Director, tenor Daniel Turner and Festival Chairman Andrew Summers have devised a packed programme of nearly thirty diverse events during Festival fortnight – 11-26 March 2017 – at leading venues across Barnes. The Festival welcomes a wonderful range of both distinguished international artists as well as emerging talent and enjoys the warm support of the local community. The festival is organised by the Barnes Music Society, the Barnes Choir and the Friends of St Mary's Barnes and is supported by Chestertons, the Barnes Community Association and several other local businesses.
A long-term aim of the Festival has been to promote young local talent and these young musicians get a superb platform at the daytime opening event on 11 March with of the finals of the new Barnes Young Musician of the Year competition, held in association with the Barnes Music Society. Distinguished conductor, Ralph Allwood leads the adjudications with the winner performing during the Festival. The evening main event is Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ featuring Tasmin Little as soloist and conductor alongside ‘Four World Seasons’ composed by Festival Patron, Roxanna Panufnik. (Little and Panufnik pictured here.)
Other Festival highlights include an evening with Sean Rafferty of BBC Radio 3 on 14 March; a cabaret evening with Kit and McConnel on 15 March; the Rautio Piano Trio performing a London themed programme, including Jim Parker’s arrangement of Betjeman poems with a celebrity narrator on 16 March; Festival Patron Gyles Brandreth with his own take on Gilbert & Sullivan on 19 March; the first ever classical concert at the London We
tlands Centre on 21 March and a performance of the Brahms Requiem with the English Chamber Choir on 22 March. Additionally there will be jazz and blues at the famous Bull’s Head; exciting community events plus the screening of Tony Palmer’s film on Aldeburgh & Britten with Elly Oldroyd.
Performances are given in several local venues including St Mary's Barnes, St Michael's Barnes, the OSO Arts Centre, Olympic Studios, the London Wetlands Centre and The Bull's Head.
Patrons: Howard Goodall CBE; Gyles Brandreth; Roxanna Panufnik