Page 377 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

Julius Drake, and joining him in Machynlleth are fellow pianists Llyr Williams and, as part
of Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, Tom Poster.

The Collective’s programme might end with Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet, but en route there’s
a Divertimento by the splendidly-named Duchess Anna Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel,

as well as Mark Simpson’s brooding Nachtstück for horn and piano.

Presteigne Festival

Presteigne, Radnorshire, 22-26 August
presteignefestival.com

Not every festival cleaves to the observance of anniversaries. Independent-minded
Presteigne is backing Britten with an astute selection of some of his less well-known

works. And having always made a point of approaching new music with ears wide open, it
conjures 12 premieres including a piano quintet from Michael Zev Gordon, Richard
Blackford’s Spirit of Delight and, in a finale that concludes with the young Britten’s

ebullient Sinfonietta Op. 1, a Harp Concerto by Lynne Plowman.

Best UK classical music festivals: September 2024

Lammermuir Festival

East Lothian, 5-15 September
lammermuirfestival.co.uk

After Creative Scotland’s shock decision to remove funding from the festival, Lammermuir
might be down, but it’s far from out. Even under threat, the programming has lost none of
its flair and cogency. A four-concerts residency brings Concerto Copenhagen to Scotland

for the first time; and pianist Jeremy Denk is similarly ‘resident’, honouring the Fauré
centenary with the Valo Quartet and tackling the complete Charles Ives violin sonatas with

Maria Włoszczowska. Completist Lammermuir also secures all the Beethoven piano trios
from the Van Baerle Trio.