Stoppress: See below Saturday 7th Oct for a mealdeal

Syrinx and Harp - a very French affair

Arcadia 2017 is a French affair, but several strands will be explored beyond works familiar and less familiar by those giants of twentieth century music, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Aside from Beethoven’s nod to friendship and short-sightedness in his humorous ‘Eyeglasses’ duo for viola and cello, two of the most original works in the Duo genre get a hearing: Ravel's late masterpiece for violin and cello, and one of the most attractive and beguiling of works by Camille Saint Saëns for violin and harp. And the harp is featured in a big way by the eminent and brilliant Hugh Webb who will unravel the secrets of this instrument in a special event - besides his involvement in each concert. Syrinx will breath his magic upon us with Debussy's eponymous and extraordinarily atmospheric short solo for flute at the start of each concert and we are lucky to have a star of the flute world in the Spanish virtuoso Diego Aceña Moreno to deliver. A work of Beethoven is featured in each concert and there is also Eleanor's joyous and life affirming first string quartet of 1994 plus a rare chance to hear a signature work by that unjustly neglected figure of French music Albert Roussel.

To guide us on this voyage of delights we are hugely privileged indeed to have a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur no less.  Roger Nichols, author, broadcaster and world authority on French music will bring enlightemment, insight and amusement into this cornucopia.  Be sure not to miss the event at Aardvark on Saturday afternoon where he will bring his stated mission to us ‘to help French music to be heard, known and loved throughout the world’.

This Year's Arcadians:

Author and Lecturer: Roger Nichols
Harp: Hugh Webb
Composer: Eleanor Alberga
Flute: Diego Aceña Moreno
Clarinet: Sacha Rattle
Violins: Jacqueline Shave and Thomas Bowes
Viola: Andres Kaljuste
‘cello: Jonathan Swensen

Arcadia event 1

7:30 pm Thursday 5th October The Sun Inn Leintwardine SY7 0LP
Taster concert and a chance to be introduced to some of the music and players in this fun and free event.

Arcadia event 2

7:30 Friday 6th October St Mary Magdalene Leintwardine SY7 0LJ
Debussy: Syrinx for solo flute
Saint Saëns: Fantasie for vlolin and harp
Beethoven: Serenade op 25 for flute, violin and viola
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Roussel:  Serenade for flute, harp, violin, viola and cello
Debussy: String Quartet op 10 
Tickets

Arcadia event 3

3:00 pm Saturday 7th October Aardvark Books Brampton Bryan SY7 0DH
A double-header event with tea and biscuits.

The Eternal Dreamer.  An illustrated history and demonstration of the harp  by Hugh Webb.

Sense and Sensuality.  Roger Nichols looks at a few of the features that make French music so alluring. With Illustraions from the ful Arcadia ensemble.

Not to be missed!
Tickets

Going to both events on Saturday 7th?  The Angel at Kingsland is willing to offer a dinner sitting at 5pm if enough people sign up. Please contact the Angel directly.

Arcadia event 4

7:30 pm Saturday 7th October St Michael and All Angels Kingsland
Debussy: Syrinx for solo flute
Debussy: Sonata for flute, viola and harp
Alberga: String Quartet no 1 (1993) 
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Beethoven: String Quartet op 74 'The Harp'
Ravel: Introduction and Allegro for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet
Tickets

Arcadia event 5

4:00 pm Sunday 8th October St Giles Downton on the Rock 
Debussy: Syrinx for flute solo
Ravel: Duo for violin and cello
Beethoven: Duo for two eyeglasses, viola and cello 
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Ravel: String Quartet 
Debussy: Danse Sacreé et Danse Profane for harp and string quartet 
Tickets

Links to BBC background notes on some of the composers:
Ravel
Debussy 1
Debussy 2
Roussel
Saint Saëns 1
Saint Saëns 2