Paris is the focus of next February’s Cotswold House Party, with three days of French chamber and piano music premiered in the city’s halls and salons. With the Elias Quartet – co-stars of this summer’s house party – we shall be exploring the ever-popular string quartets by Debussy and Ravel. Daniel Tong, familiar to most of you, will play piano music by Debussy and the half-Polish, half-French Chopin, and join members of the Elias in violin and cello sonatas by Debussy and Ravel. Gabriel Fauré, doyen of French Romantic composers, is represented by two beautiful late works, the Piano Trio and the C minor Piano Quintet, plus a piano-cello arrangement of his song ‘Après un rêve’ – a Parisian salon favourite. Monday evening’s nocturnal-themed concert will also include the haunting string quartet ‘Ainsi la nuit’ by Henri Dutilleux, composed after a long study of Beethoven’s late quartets.
The four members of the Elias are Sara Bitlloch and Don Grant (violins), Martin Saving (viola) and Marie Bitlloch (cello). More details on their website: http://eliasstringquartet.com
I have again reserved rooms in The Bay Tree, a charming four-star hotel dating back to 1565, situated in the centre of the picture-postcard Cotswold town of Burford. Those who stayed at the Bay Tree in February can be assured that renovation works are completed, and the bar is fully functioning! I have also booked rooms in the sister hotel, The Lamb, 60 yards down Sheep Street. This is smaller than The Bay Tree, but standards (and prices) are comparable.
Each day will include a study session, with the players on hand for instant demonstration and comment, and one or more concerts. The programme allows time to explore the delights of Burford, which in February is mercifully free of the tourists and film-crews that inundate the town in the summer!
SUNDAY 7 FEBRUARY
2.00 onwards Arrival at The Bay Tree Hotel, Sheep Street, Burford,
Oxfordshire, OX18 4LW Tel 01993 822 791; or The Lamb,
Sheep St, Burford , Oxon OX18 4LR 01993 823 155
3.00-5.00 Study session, with break for tea/coffee
6.00 Concert
Debussy Piano Preludes (selection)
Debussy String Quartet in G minor
7.30 Dinner in the hotel restaurant
MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY
10.30-12.30 Study session, with break
12.40 Concert
Ravel String Quartet
1.15 Lunch
Free afternoon to explore Burford
6.00 Concert
Fauré Après un rêve (arr. cello and piano)
Debussy Cello Sonata
Chopin Nocturnes
Dutilleux Ainsi la nuit
7.30 Dinner in the hotel restaurant
TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY
10.30-12.20 Study session, with break
12.30 Concert
Fauré Piano Trio in D minor
Chopin Piano music
1.15 Lunch
Free afternoon
6.00 Concert
Ravel Violin Sonata
Fauré Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor
7.30 Dinner in the hotel restaurant