rncm strings festival - music conservatoire · the rncm strings festival is a major event in . ......

RNCM STRINGS FESTIVALWELCOMEThe RNCM Strings Festival is a major event in the College’s calendar – a chance to see the majority of our string students perform at some point over the weekend plus a showcase for internationally-renowned artists who also happen to be our staff!

We’ve programmed 48 hours of incredible events – from performances to masterclasses to workshops – to appeal to string players and music lovers alike. We explore Baroque music and its influence as we move through the works of Vivaldi and Bach, Vaughan Williams, Tchaikovsky and onwards to Tippett and Louis Andriessen, who we are delighted to confirm will be visiting the RNCM during the Festival. The music will be challenging but also energetic, inspiring and accessible.

This year’s highlights include brilliant examples of artistic collaboration as our students work with professional musicians. On Saturday evening, Henning Kraggerud will direct a performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. On Sunday, the Festival’s closing Gala ends with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for String Orchestra, performed by a large string orchestra, rather than the usual petite ‘virtuoso’ group. And just before the Gala, you’ll also be able to witness the spectacular sight of 40 cellists performing Tallis’ Spem in alium on the Upper Concourse of the building.

This Festival is a true celebration and a manifestation of how passionate we are about the music to be explored over the weekend by our students and special guests. We look forward to welcoming you to share this experience.

Chris Hoyle Artistic Director, RNCM Strings Festival

Sun 15 Jan 10am - 1pm RNCM YOUNG BASSESOn Sunday, we are running our regular workshops for double bass players of school age, from absolute beginners to post-Grade 8. Sessions are streamed by ability, so there will be something to inspire and challenge everyone. The session will culminate in a short performance that includes Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango, plus other fun favourites.

Visit rncm.ac.uk/youngbasses for further details.Free admission. To book your place, please contact Bryony Taylor, Music Education Administrator, at [email protected]

DOUBLE BASS LESSONSWe are also offering a limited number of free private lessons with RNCM Tutors in Double Bass.

These lessons are recommended for students aged 16 and over, with a minimum standard of Grade 8, who are looking to further their education at the RNCM.

These sessions must be booked in advance by contacting Matt Whitham, Festivals Co-ordinator, at [email protected]

LIVE VIOLA-MAKING AND LUTHIERS EXHIBITIONThroughout the week leading up to the Festival, four of the country’s finest instrument makers (William Castle, Helen Michetschläger, Kai-Thomas Roth, Marc Soubeyran) will work together to make a viola based on an instrument by the 18th century Venetian maker Anselmo Bellosio.

After the completion of the viola on Friday 13 January, the instrument makers become part of a wider exhibition featuring some of the UK’s leading luthiers, bow-makers and retailers. The instrument will be varnished subsequently, after which the viola will become part of the RNCM collection for loan to its students.

The finished viola will be handed over at the beginning of Saturday evening’s concert, where it will be played for the first time.

Supported by the Thomas Jellis Bequest

10am – 10.25am RNCM Concert Hall

OPENING CONCERT WITH CATHERINE YATES (director)J S Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor BWV 1043 Henry Purcell Chacony in G Minor Z 730

Tickets £5 concessions available

10.30am – 12pm RNCM Venues

MORNING MASTERCLASSESObserve an inspirational public masterclass, led by one of the RNCM’s esteemed string tutors.

Choose between: VIOLIN with Jim Clark VIOLA with Thomas Riebl CELLO with István Várdai

Admission for Weekend/Day Ticket holders only

1.15pm – 2pm RNCM Concert Hall

LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH THOMAS RIEBL (viola), HARVEY DAVIES (harpsichord) and ANNETTE ISSERLIS (director)*J S Bach Sonata for Viola da Gamba No 3 in G minor BWV 1029 Michael Grolid Images (UK première) J S Bach (arr Kobayakawa for viola ensemble) Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major BWV 1048*


2.30pm – 3.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

FIVE-STRING BACH WITH PHILIP HIGHAM (cello) and KAI-THOMAS ROTH (luthier)Philip Higham and Kai-Thomas Roth discuss making and playing a five-string cello, followed by a performance of J S Bach’s Cello Suite No 6 in D major BWV 1012.


4pm – 4.50pm Carole Nash Recital Room

WORKSHOP: BOW STROKE DEVELOPMENT WITH FIONNUALA HUNTViolin and viola players of all ages and abilities are invited to bring their instruments along for this interactive workshop led by RNCM Violin Tutor Fionnuala Hunt.


5.15pm – 6.05pm Carole Nash Recital Room

SOLEM QUARTETJoseph Haydn String Quartet in B minor Op 64 No 2 Hob III/68 W A Mozart String Quartet in D minor K 421


(Please arrive early as seating in this venue

is limited)

6.30pm – 7pm Forman Lecture Theatre

IN DISCUSSION WITH LOUIS ANDRIESSENJoin conductor Henk Guittart as he talks to Louis Andriessen about this evening’s Baroque-inspired programme.

Free admission, no ticket required


MORNING MASTERCLASSESMore unique insight from RNCM string tutors in a selection of public masterclasses.

Choose between: VIOLIN with Pavel FischerCELLO with Hannah RobertsVIOLA with Annette Isserlis



RNCM HARPS WITH EIRA LYNN JONESProgramme to include: Marcel Grandjany RhapsodiePaul Patterson ArmisticeTraditional Folk tunes (from Le Chéile folk trio)


2pm – 2.45pm RNCM Concert Hall

TIPPETT AND CORELLI WITH SERGEJ BOLKHOVETS (conductor)* and CATHERINE YATES (director)Arcangelo Corelli Concerto Grosso in F major Op 6 No 2* Michael Tippett Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli



HARP WORKSHOPWITH EIRA LYNN JONESHarpists of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in a harp workshop, exploring technique and tunes. Bring a harp and join in the fun!

Entry is free, but you must register in advance

with Matt Whitham, Festivals Co-ordinator, at

[email protected],to secure your place.

2pm – 3.30pm Studio 4

DOUBLE BASS WORKSHOP WITH STEVE BERRYDouble bass players of any age or ability are invited to observe or join in with this workshop on improvisation and jazz technique.

Entry to the workshop is free, with no prior

registration necessary.


HANNAH ROBERTS (cello) SIMON PARKIN (piano)François Couperin Pièces en ConcertJ S Bach (arr Parkin) Selection from Goldberg Variations BWV 988 J S Bach (ed Grützmacher) Sonata for Viola da Gamba No 2 in D major BWV 1028 Gabriel Fauré Sicilienne



TOBY HUGHES (double bass) BEN POWELL (piano)Alfred Desenclos Aria and RondoAdolf Mišek Double Bass Sonata in A major Op 5



is limited)

4.30pm – 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre

TALK: VIOLIN VARNISHWITH HELEN MICHETSCHLÄGER (luthier)Helen Michetschläger talks about her recent publication of notes and articles by the late luthier and varnish expert Koen Padding, in this unique and insightful session about a crucial process of string instrument making.


6.30pm Upper Concourse

TALLIS’ SPEM IN ALIUM FOR 40 CELLOSHear Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet in a spectacular version for cello ensemble, conducted and arranged by student James Heathcote.



RNCM STRING ENSEMBLES AND CHAMBER CHOIR WITH HENNING KRAGGERUD (director/violin)Louis Andriessen Remembering That Sarabande J S Bach (arr Andriessen) Prelude in B minor BWV 869 Gregorio Allegri Miserere^ Louis Andriessen …miserere… Max Reger Lyric Andante Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons*

Henning Kraggerud director/violin* Henk Guittart, Stuart Overington^ conductors RNCM Chamber Choir^ RNCM String Ensembles

Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud directs Vivaldi’s timeless classic in a programme that also features contemporary writing influenced by the Baroque period.


7pm – 9pm RNCM Concert Hall

EVENING GALA CONCERTRalph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas TallisClaude Debussy Danse sacrée et danse profane^Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Op 33*Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for String Orchestra Op 48

Henk Guittart, Chris Hoyle conductorsElinor Nicholson harp^ István Várdai cello* RNCM String Ensembles

The Festival finale closes with another cornerstone of the classical repertoire and a rare opportunity to hear this version of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade, performed by a large string orchestra, programmed to allow more of our students a performance opportunity in the Strings Festival.


Sat 14 Jan Sun 15 Jan

10am – 10.25am RNCM Concert Hall

OPENING CONCERT WITH CATHERINE YATES (director)J S Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor BWV 1043 Henry Purcell Chacony in G Minor Z 730



MORNING MASTERCLASSESObserve an inspirational public masterclass, led by one of the RNCM’s esteemed string tutors.

Choose between: VIOLIN with Jim Clark VIOLA with Thomas Riebl CELLO with István Várdai



LUNCHTIME CONCERT WITH THOMAS RIEBL (viola), HARVEY DAVIES (harpsichord) and ANNETTE ISSERLIS (director)*J S Bach Sonata for Viola da Gamba No 3 in G minor BWV 1029 Michael Grolid Images (UK première) J S Bach (arr Kobayakawa for viola ensemble) Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major BWV 1048*



FIVE-STRING BACH WITH PHILIP HIGHAM (cello) and KAI-THOMAS ROTH (luthier)Philip Higham and Kai-Thomas Roth discuss making and playing a five-string cello, followed by a performance of J S Bach’s Cello Suite No 6 in D major BWV 1012.



WORKSHOP: BOW STROKE DEVELOPMENT WITH FIONNUALA HUNTViolin and viola players of all ages and abilities are invited to bring their instruments along for this interactive workshop led by RNCM Violin Tutor Fionnuala Hunt.



SOLEM QUARTETJoseph Haydn String Quartet in B minor Op 64 No 2 Hob III/68 W A Mozart String Quartet in D minor K 421



is limited)

6.30pm – 7pm Forman Lecture Theatre

IN DISCUSSION WITH LOUIS ANDRIESSENJoin conductor Henk Guittart as he talks to Louis Andriessen about this evening’s Baroque-inspired programme.



MORNING MASTERCLASSESMore unique insight from RNCM string tutors in a selection of public masterclasses.

Choose between: VIOLIN with Pavel Fischer CELLO with Hannah Roberts VIOLA with Annette Isserlis



RNCM HARPS WITH EIRA LYNN JONESProgramme to include: Marcel Grandjany Rhapsodie Paul Patterson Armistice Traditional Folk tunes (from Le Chéile folk trio)


2pm – 2.45pm RNCM Concert Hall

TIPPETT AND CORELLI WITH SERGEJ BOLKHOVETS (conductor)* and CATHERINE YATES (director)Arcangelo Corelli Concerto Grosso in F major Op 6 No 2* Michael Tippett Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli



HARP WORKSHOPWITH EIRA LYNN JONESHarpists of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in a harp workshop, exploring technique and tunes. Bring a harp and join in the fun!

Entry is free, but you must register in advance

with Matt Whitham, Festivals Co-ordinator, at

[email protected],to secure your place.

2pm – 3.30pm Studio 4

DOUBLE BASS WORKSHOP WITH STEVE BERRYDouble bass players of any age or ability are invited to observe or join in with this workshop on improvisation and jazz technique.

Entry to the workshop is free, with no prior

registration necessary.


HANNAH ROBERTS (cello) SIMON PARKIN (piano)François Couperin Pièces en Concert J S Bach (arr Parkin) Selection from Goldberg Variations BWV 988 J S Bach (ed Grützmacher) Sonata for Viola da Gamba No 2 in D major BWV 1028 Gabriel Fauré Sicilienne



TOBY HUGHES (double bass) BEN POWELL (piano)Alfred Desenclos Aria and Rondo Adolf Mišek Double Bass Sonata in A major Op 5



is limited)

4.30pm – 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre

TALK: VIOLIN VARNISH WITH HELEN MICHETSCHLÄGER (luthier)Helen Michetschläger talks about her recent publication of notes and articles by the late luthier and varnish expert Koen Padding, in this unique and insightful session about a crucial process of string instrument making.


6.30pm Upper Concourse

TALLIS’ SPEM IN ALIUM FOR 40 CELLOSHear Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet in a spectacular version for cello ensemble, conducted and arranged by student James Heathcote.



RNCM STRING ENSEMBLES AND CHAMBER CHOIR WITH HENNING KRAGGERUD (director/violin)Louis Andriessen Remembering That Sarabande J S Bach (arr Andriessen) Prelude in B minor BWV 869 Gregorio Allegri Miserere^ Louis Andriessen …miserere… Max Reger Lyric Andante Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons*

Henning Kraggerud director/violin* Henk Guittart, Stuart Overington^ conductors RNCM Chamber Choir^ RNCM String Ensembles

Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud directs Vivaldi’s timeless classic in a programme that also features contemporary writing influenced by the Baroque period.


7pm – 9pm RNCM Concert Hall

EVENING GALA CONCERTRalph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Claude Debussy Danse sacrée et danse profane^ Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Op 33* Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for String Orchestra Op 48

Henk Guittart, Chris Hoyle conductors Elinor Nicholson harp^ István Várdai cello* RNCM String Ensembles

The Festival finale closes with another cornerstone of the classical repertoire and a rare opportunity to hear this version of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade, performed by a large string orchestra, programmed to allow more of our students a performance opportunity in the Strings Festival.


Sat 14 Jan Sun 15 Jan

BookingFull Weekend Ticket £50 (covers admission to all Strings Festival events)

Saturday Day Ticket £30

Sunday Day Ticket £30

Student/Under 18s £15 per day

Group booking discounts available through the Box Office

Individual tickets as listed within this leaflet

How to BookIn person RNCM Box Office

124 Oxford Road Manchester, M13 9RD

By phone 0161 907 5555

Online www.rncm.ac.uk

(individual event tickets only)

How to Find Us/ParkingGo to www.tfgm.com for details of public transport in the Greater Manchester area. Please also see www.tfgm.com/buspriority to see how your route to College may change as a result of the city-wide Bus Priority Scheme. For more detailed information and a map of how to find us please visit www.rncm.ac.uk/visit

The RNCM car park is located next to the College in the basement of the Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence, off Rosamond Street West. Open from 5pm at weekends, costing £3.50 (payable on foot at the machine). Closes at 11.30pm. Other car parking options are available at www.rncm.ac.uk/parking

Please note that due to recent carriageway changes made by TfGM, visitors can no longer exit Rosamond Street at the junction with Oxford Road (as it is now one-way) and are encouraged to exit either via Higher Cambridge Street or High Chatham Street.

Food and DrinkDuring the Strings Festival, the café is open from 8am - 7.30pm for breakfast, hot food, sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Our Concert Bar is open from 12pm until 11pm.

/rncmvoice /rncmlive @rncmliveBox Office 0161 907 5555 www.rncm.ac.uk/brassbandfestival /rncmvoice /rncmlive

www.rncm.ac.uk/stringsfestival

rncm strings festival - music conservatoire · the rncm strings festival is a major event in . ......

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