A Voyage to the New World is a weekend of intimate concerts and talks exploring the works of a broad range of composers who were inspired by their travels from Europe to the New World. In addition to this, we hear music by some of America’s most eminent composers, including Gershwin, Barber and Copland. In a series of performances curated specially for Cheltenham Music Festival, the Carducci Quartet are joined by friends including one of the world’s finest clarinettists Julian Bliss, known for his versatility across a range of genres, young baritone Benedict Nelson, who has drawn comparisons to Gerald Finley and Simon Keenlyside, and pianist Kathryn Stott, a favourite Festival artist. BBC Radio 3 broadcaster and presenter Katy Hamilton provides enlightening insight about each programme in a series of short pre-concert talks.

Kindly supported by Sir Michael and Lady McWilliam

Sunday programme

10am: Gardens open

11am: Concert III
Copland Four Piano Blues (8’)
Poulenc Clarinet Sonata (14’)
Gershwin Three preludes (8’)
Gershwin Someone to Watch Over Me (4’)
Debussy Première rhapsodie (8’)
Steve Reich Different Trains (30’)

1pm: Lunch

3pm: Concert IV
Philip Glass String Quartet No.3 ‘Mishima’ (20’)
Samuel Barber String Quartet in B minor Op. 11 (20’)
David Bruce Gumboots for Clarinet & String Quartet (25’)

Haydn String Quartet in Bb Op. 76 No 4 ‘The Sunrise’
Judith Weir New work for flute and string trio (World Premiere)
Oliver Knussen Masks Op. 3 for solo flute
Dvořák Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Op. 81

The Nash Ensemble make a hugely welcome return for the opening concert of the 2019 Festival, presenting a programme of joyful contrasts. The exquisite Sunrise, from Haydn’s last set of quartets, paves the way for the World Premiere of a work for flute and string trio by Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir. This marks the first of more than 20 major premieres at this year’s Festival. Oliver Knussen’s long and fruitful relationship with the Festival is remembered with his beguiling solo flute work, and the concert concludes with the second quintet of Anton Dvořák, widely considered a masterpiece of the form.

Kindly supported by the Cheltenham Music Festival Society in memory of Graham Lockwood

The playing…was incisive, transparent and beautifully shaped. Chamber music doesn’t come any better

Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson Heyr, himna smiður (Hear, smith of the heavens)
Edvard Grieg Hvad est du dog skjøn
Wilhelm Stenhammer September
Jean Sibelius Rakastava (The Lover)
Kaija Saariaho Nuits Adieux (Nights Farewell)
David Wikander Förvårskväll (Spring evening)
Matthew Whittall Lauantaisauna (Saturday Sauna)
Per Nørgård Maya Danser (Maya’s Dance)
Norwegian folksong (arr. Ørjan Matre) Halleluja,
vår strid er endt (Halleluja, our struggle ends)
Karin Rehnqvist I Himmelen (In heaven’s hall)

The unusual sound-world of Nordic choral music from the end of the 19th century to the present day is recreated by British vocal ensemble The Carice Singers for their programme Sounding North. This atmospheric programme combines music, languages and other surprising sounds, from Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Enjoy three days of free concerts, pop-up performances and showcases at Imperial Square to celebrate the opening of our 75th anniversary.

Browse below for what we have in store for you over the opening weekend

Introit: Hannah Kendall Their Kingdom, the Air
Responses: Rose
Canticles: Howells St Paul’s Service
Anthem: Roxanna Panufnik Deus Meus (from the Westminster Mass)

For directions and accessibility information click here.

Dani Howard New work (World Premiere)
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Op. 35
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade Op. 35

Presenting a programme created solely for Cheltenham’s 75th anniversary, the peerless London Symphony Orchestra give a performance that includes two giants of the Russian repertoire. A roof-raising new work commissioned by Classic FM, from composer Dani Howard, launches this spectacular opening night concert. Superstar conductor Elim Chan makes her Festival debut, alongside one of today’s most remarkable young violinists, Emmanuel Tjeknavorian.

Kindly supported by The Pasetchnik Family

Enjoy three days of free concerts, pop-up performances and showcases at Imperial Square to celebrate the opening of our 75th anniversary.

Browse below for what we have in store for you over the opening weekend

Albeniz Espana, Op. 165 (Arr. Xuefei Yang)
Malats Serenata Española
Albeniz Suite Española Op. 47 (Arr. Xuefei Yang)
Paco De Lucia Reflejo De Luna
Nino Ricardo Gitaneria Arabesa
Granados Spanish Dance No.4
Granados La Maja De Goya
Granados Zapateado
Debussy The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
De Falla Homenaje Pour Le Tombeau De Debussy
De Falla Miller’s Dance
Rodrigo Invocacion Y Danza
Tarrega Gran Jota

The first Chinese guitarist to achieve international recognition following the Cultural Revolution, Xuefei Yang is also revered as one of the greatest musicians of her generation. She presents a captivating recital of Spanish flavoured guitar works, accompanied by one of the UK’s leading flamenco dancers, Maria Vega.

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the composer Clara Schumann, the elegant drawing rooms in and around Imperial Square provide an intimate setting for an immersive chamber music adventure. Experience some of the UK’s finest classical artists in four Cheltenham Regency Townhouses as they present a series of recitals inspired by the consummate artistry of Clara Schumann. Round off this delightful tour with a complimentary glass of English sparkling wine at The Nyetimber Bus in Imperial Gardens.

Please note that due to the nature of the event, there is no step free access and walking is required between venues.

Ruth Gipps Symphony No. 2
Thea Musgrave Trumpet Concerto (World Premiere)
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
William Walton Troilus and Cressida Suite

After another barnstorming success in 2017, audiences will be thrilled to see the return of Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and the beloved City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for the second symphonic concert of the weekend. This bespoke all-British programme is based around a World Premiere from the first female composer to be commissioned by the Festival in 1956, Thea Musgrave. Her Trumpet Concerto has been co-commissioned for our Festival by the CBSO in celebration of their centenary, and the LA Philharmonic for Festival Artistic Director Alison Balsom.

Kindly supported by Diana Woolley

Claude Debussy Prèlude à L’Après Midi d’un Faune
Alex Mills Crossing Over (World Premiere)
Igor Stravinsky Rite of Spring

This performance sees two great 20th century works stripped down and presented in their purest form on two pianos. They are separated by an exciting new work by one of the alumni of Cheltenham Festivals’ Composer Academy, Alex Mills. Debussy’s work was originally conceived as a symphonic poem for orchestra, and later provided the basis for Njinsky’s iconic choreography as a ballet. Stravinsky’s uncompromising masterpiece The Rite of Spring remains essential listening over 100 years after it was first created, and still has the power to shock and astonish.

Kindly supported by Kamala Chelliah-Boardman

Enjoy three days of free concerts, pop-up performances and showcases at Imperial Square to celebrate the opening of our 75th anniversary.

Browse below for what we have in store for you over the opening weekend