Page 270 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

Our thoughts are centred on the English composer Freda Swain (1902-1985, pictured above),
whose oeuvre is currently being rediscovered. What a genius she was. We are very much
looking forward to recording her fantastic String Quartet No.1, "Norfolk" and the piano
quartet The Sea on CD. We will be playing a number of premieres and international premieres by
Freda Swain this year. The world premiere of "Norfolk" will take place at the Aldeburgh Festival
on 11 June. We can tell from the many mistakes contained in the original manuscripts of both
works that they have never been performed before; if they had, then the players would have
made corrections in the parts. How much we miss information from her on questions of
interpretation. Imagine if she had had friends and musicians around her who would have
supported her. She would undoubtedly be internationally recognised today as one of the most
prominent composers of her time. At some point in her life, there must have been a point where
she withdrew more and more and avoided contact with those around her, with the result that we
see today: Her amazing oeuvre packed away in boxes and forgotten. It is time to bring them
back.

The reunion with our friends in Coburg is a real celebration. We have a lot to talk about and can
hardly tear ourselves away, but the audience is waiting and the stage lights come on. As we
continue our journey the following day, a remark interrupts the morning silence, as if yesterday's
dialogue was only a few minutes ago. "In any case, it's clear that we're still playing today
because music clubs in Stuttgart, Seligenstadt, Leamington, East Bergholt, Nagoya, Yokohama
and all those places we've come to love have invited us countless times, because they've
faithfully accompanied us on our artistic journey and we've become friends."

That is true. That is the recipe for success. It's the people who accompany us on this long
journey. They make the difference. They were and still are at our side. Some of our agency