New Paths Festival 2021
Once again we are welcoming a team of exceptional musicians. We have a world premiere and some fascinating speakers lined up, as well as some wonderful opportunities for young musicians in the area. The programme celebrates the 1300th birthday of the town of Beverley, the 40th birthday of the Humber Bridge, and American music for Independence Day (a day or two early!).
Further details available from the festival at: https://www.newpathsmusic.com/2021-festivals/
Foreign affairs
Thursday 1st July / 8pm – 9:15pm £15 / Toll Gavel United Church
Beamish: Penillion
Poulenc: Deux poèmes de Louis Aragon
Barber: Cello Sonata
Britten: Folksongs
Music by Vaughan Williams, Hahn and Tann
Composers have long been inspired by places other than their own. Britten’s lifelong habit of arranging folksongs began with his time in America; conversely Barber’s brooding, powerful Cello Sonata stems from the American composer’s time in Europe.
Cellist Tim Lowe makes a welcome return to the festival and joins Libby Burgess for this major work. Sally Beamish’s Penillion for solo viola makes an evocative journey to Wales, and is performed by Rosalind Ventris, one of the leading lights of the viola world.
Songs by Poulenc and Hahn, and chamber music by Welsh composer Hilary Tann, take us to Venice, Florence,and war-torn France, whilst Vaughan Williams’ rarely performed
The Last Invocation explores our own, final, journeys.
Anna Cavaliero soprano
Gareth Brynmor John baritone
Claire Wickes flute
Tim Crawford violin
Rosalind Ventris viola
Tim Lowe cello
Libby Burgess piano
By the dawn’s early light
Saturday 3rd July / 11am – 12:10pm £15 / Toll Gavel United Church
Fauré: Dolly Suite
Copland: Duo for flute and piano
Higdon: Pale Yellow
Saint-Saëns: The Swan
Songs by Saint-Saëns and Copland
Libby Burgess and renowned pianist James Baillieu join forces for the first of their two duet appearances today, Fauré’s beloved, sunny Dolly Suite. The young Aaron Copland was a great admirer of the elderly Fauré’s music, and we hear songs from Simple Gifts to Ching-a-Ring Chaw from the American composer, as well as his expansive, brilliant Duo for flute and piano.
Flautist Claire Wickes joins baritone Gareth Brynmor John for Saint-Saëns’ beguiling Une flûte invisible; Saint-Saëns was Fauré’s teacher and mentor, and this is his centenary year. Representing a more recent generation of American composers is Jennifer Higdon, whose short, evocative Pale Yellow piano trio offers a moment of repose.
Gareth Brynmor John baritone
Claire Wickes flute
Fenella Humphreys violin
Tim Lowe cello
James Baillieu piano
Libby Burgess piano
Revels ended
Saturday 3rd July / 8pm – 9:15pm £15 / Toll Gavel United Church
Britten: Canticle IV – Journey of the Magi
Saint-Saëns: Violons dans le soir
Piazzolla: Oblivion
Schubert: Notturno
Britten: Canticle II – Abraham and Isaac
Songs by Purcell and Saint-Saëns
In medieval Beverley, the annual procession of mystery plays captured the imaginations of the whole town. Britten sets two mystery play texts amongst his canticles – colourfully exploring the behind-the-scenes reality of the wise men’s journey from the east, and heart-stoppingly depicting the story of Abraham, called by God to sacrifice his own son.
The night-time theme of the magi journey is picked up in Purcell’s radiant Evening Hymn and Schubert’s sublime piano trio Notturno.A more sultry nocturnal mood is captured in Piazzolla’s tango, marking the Argentinian composer’s centenary, and for this we’re delighted to welcome back to New Paths violinist Fenella Humphreys.
Former RSC and West End actor Richard Avery interleaves the music with short spoken word declamations – a true reflection of the town’s mystery play heritage.
William Towers countertenor
Joshua Ellicott tenor
Gareth Brynmor John baritone
Fenella Humphreys violin
Cara Berridge cello
Libby Burgess piano
Richard Avery actor