Music festival returns in May
A popular classical music festival is returning this year in a new venue and a smaller form.
Whittington Music Festival will hold three concerts in Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.
Last year’s Festival had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus epidemic and the Festival Trustees hope that by May 20-22 conditions will mean that the festival’s loyal audience can enjoy live music again.
Organisers say that the move to Holy Trinity Church has been dictated by the need to allow for social distancing for audience and performers and similarly the Festival programme, limited to three concerts, reflects the difficulty in planning over the past months and the corresponding uncertainty over the availability of musicians.
Festival spokesman, Michael Limbrey said, “We had no alternative but to cancel last year’s festival, though it was a great disappointment. Since then we have been trying to work out whether there could be a Festival this year and how we could organise it.
“This year the first thing we have had to consider was whether we could continue in Whittington Church where all the previous Festivals have taken place. The picturesque Church opposite Whittington's castle and pond has great acoustics and the Church have been very hospitable. However, as we expect we will still be observing social distancing in May, we could only accommodate a very small audience in the Church for each concert which would be disappointing for the performers and the audience.
“Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry has regularly been used for concerts and it too has good acoustics and an uninterrupted view for the audience. As a bigger church we should be able to accommodate a larger number and, while guidance on social distancing may change by May, we are looking carefully at seating arrangements and the audience arrival and departure so they can be managed within current procedures.
“In planning a new Festival we have been extremely fortunate to have the help of Sophia Rahman who has appeared at the Festival before. Sophia has devised a series of three concerts though they will be shorter than usual and without an interval so as to keep audience movement to a minimum.
“We will bring no less than fifteen first-class musicians to the Festival. All have played at prestigious venues at home and abroad and we are extremely lucky to see such an array of talent at the Festival.
Ticket sales will be announced later.
The Festival organisers are continuing to appeal for help to ensure the Festival can run in the future, particularly anyone who could help with accounts and grant applications.
“These roles would suit someone who has retired, perhaps recently, or is working part time. Anyone joining the Festival team would be helping to ensure a future for one of the cultural highlights of our area.”
The first concert will feature French composers including Debussy and Fauré, starting with a solo flute with successive pieces then involving more instruments, concluding with seven players performing an arrangement of Fauré’s Sicilienne.
The second concert has a touch of the baroque with pieces by Bach, Britten and Warlock and the final concert moves into the countryside with song and dance pieces and two versions of Schubert’s famous Trout.
