Cheltenham Music Festival 2009

4 to 18 July – Cheltenham Music Festival 2009 is set to get underway once again this summer, celebrating its 65th anniversary with a line-up of classical music concerts and events that will have fans and first-timers alike flocking to the spa town.

The 65th Cheltenham Music Festival gets underway on Friday 3 July 2009, with a dazzling programme of live classical music at venues including Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham Town Hall and Tewkesbury Abbey, until Saturday 18 July 2009.

Organisers say this year’s special programme focuses on music by Jewish composers, a celebration of 250 years of the string quartet, as well as celebrating the festival’s own 65-year history of delivering Cheltenham classical premieres.

With more than 70 events to choose from, connoisseurs of classical music are certainly spoilt for choice at the Cheltenham Music Festival 2009. SoGlos.com’s own highlights include:

Friday 3 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

The festival opens in a blaze of big screen glamour with the John Wilson Orchestra’s Hollywood Rhapsody at Cheltenham Town Hall, featuring a concert of thrilling film music including classics from Gone with the Wind through to Star Wars and Schindler’s List. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets for this concert cost between £5 and £30.

Saturday 4 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

A Handel Celebration: Orchestra of The Age Of Enlightenment and Harry Enfield sees a celebration of Handel’s genius 250 years since his death in 1759, taking place at Cheltenham Town Hall. Starting at 7pm, tickets for this concert cost between £5 and £50.

Sunday 5 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Bampton Classical Opera will be performing fully-staged performances in English of both Mozart’s Apollo and Hyacinth and Gluck’s Le Cinesi at Pittville Pump Rooms, with the audience encouraged to bring their own picnics. Starting at 6.30pm, tickets for this concert cost between £25 and £35.

Monday 6 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

In the 800th anniversary year of Cambridge University, Trinity College Choir, Cambridge will be performing a celebratory concert including Mendelssohn, Bach, Finzi Lo, and David Briggs at Tewkesbury Abbey. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets for this concert cost between £5 and £20.

Tuesday 7 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Here is a special opportunity to hear the world’s longest-established string quartet, and one organisers say played at Stalin’s funeral, when the Borodin Quartet perform at Pittville Pump Room. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets for this concert cost between £18 and £26.

Wednesday 8 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

The David Rees-Williams Trio will be playing a laid-back cabaret-style concert at Pittville Pump Room for ‘fans of Jacques Loussier’s jazzy take on classical tunes’. Starting at 9pm, tickets for this concert cost between £15 and £27.

Thursday 9 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Swiss group Kol Simcha will be playing an infectious concert of Jewish Folk Music with a twist at Pittville Pump Room, with the option to tuck in to bagels and sip local ale. Starting at 7pm, tickets for this concert cost between £10 and £35.

Friday 10 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Argentinian pianist Fliter and Finnish quartet Meta, BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists, will be playing a morning concert at Pittville Pump Room. Starting at 11am, tickets for this concert cost between £14 and £22.

Saturday 11 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Gloucester and Chichester Psalms is an enticing concert of psalms set to music by Gloucester Cathedral Choir at, you guessed it, Gloucester Cathedral. Starting at 6.30pm, tickets for this concert cost between £8 and £25.

Sunday 12 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Festival-goers will be able show their support for local musicians, when the Cheltenham Bach Choir and The Corelli Orchestra perform Purcell’s King Arthur at Cheltenham Town Hall. The concert starts at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £5 to £25.

Monday 13 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

More than 200 children from six Gloucestershire schools will be taking part in Sing East Sing West, a concert of music from Spain, North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North America at Cheltenham Town Hall. Starting at 6pm, tickets for this concert cost £5 for adults and children are free.

Tuesday 14 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

The 1942 musical and cinematic period-piece The Great Mr Handel will be screened at the University of Gloucestershire’s Pittville Campus. Starting at 5pm, tickets for this film cost £5.

Wednesday 15 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

Here’s your chance to hear talented local musicians in concert when the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra give a performance of Mendelssohn, Copland and Mahler at Cheltenham Town Hall guided by conductor Glyn Oxley. The concert starts at 7pm, with tickets costing £7.50.

Thursday 16 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

The comprehensive, feature-length biographical film In Search of Beethoven will be shown at the University of Gloucestershire’s Park Campus, which is suitable for all ages and includes a remarkable 55 performances. The film starts at 3pm, with tickets costing £5.

Friday 17 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

The piano and voice team of Kit and the Widow is described by organisers as ‘one of the world’s greatest musical cabaret acts’ in an event at Pittville Pump Room that promises to be full of humour and hijinks. Starting at 6.45pm, tickets for this concert cost between £14 and £22.

Saturday 18 July 2009 at Cheltenham Music Festival

The Hallé Finale promises to end the festival on a high note with a rousing concert at Cheltenham Town Hall including Adès, Mendelssohn, Britten and Sibelius. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets for this concert cost between £5 and £30.

Event: Cheltenham Music Festival 2009
Venues: Include Cheltenham Town Hall
Dates: Friday 3 to Saturday 18 July 2009
Times: Vary, according to specific concerts
Tickets: Vary in cost, and can be booked in advance by calling the Cheltenham Festivals box office on (01242) 227979.

SoGlos.com
23 June 2009