LOCH
SHIEL
SPRINGFESTIVAL
THE
ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL IN THE WEST HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
APRIL 19th-21st 2019
Friday 19 April 2019 | 7pm | Shielbridge Hall
Inspirations I: Mozart, McGuire & Fauré
Our Festival journey begins with the first of three instalments of the Inspirations series. Festival director Duncan Strachan is joined by violinist Rachel Spencer and violist Felix Tanner for a performance of the very first string trio of its kind, Mozart's mighty Divertimento in E Flat, and one of the very latest, Eddie McGuire's string trio No. 2, composed for the group in 2019. The Maxwell Quartet perform Gabriel Fauré's last work, his String Quartet from 1921.
This concert is followed by a buffet meal by Jill Gosney of Ardshealach Lodge (8.30pm)
Rachel Spencer violin
Felix Tanner viola
Maxwell Quartet Tickets £12 | Concert + Buffet ticket £29 Book >
Saturday 20th April 2019 | 7pm | Glenuig Hall
Inspirations II: Mozart & Shostakovich
Mozart's great viola quintet in C major is thought by many to be the inspiration for Schubert's great cello quintet of the same key. It is a groundbreaking work, for which the Maxwell Quartet will be joined by acclaimed Scottish violist Felix Tanner. The extreme contrast that follows is Shostakovich's ninth string quartet, composed in 1962 and dedicated to his wife, is both spiritual and harrowing in equal measure, exploring themes of Jewish origin.
Felix Tanner viola
Maxwell Quartet
Tickets £12 Book>
A festival favourite, one of Scotland’s finest chefs, Kieron Kelly, prepares a delicious post-concert buffet, in the homely surroundings of the Prince’s House Hotel. Booking early advised. Afterwards, we party the night away with the Festival Afterparty featuring impromptu performances from some of the festival artists.
Tickets: £30 Book>
Join us for a walk along the shores of Glenuig: we discover some of the fascinating gems of the seashore with stunning views across to the the Western isles. Local nature expert Dr Ian Strachan will take us on a fascinating journey, accompanied by violinist George Smith, who will perform music from Scotland for solo fiddle along the way.
George Smith violin
Tickets £10 | Book >
Saturday 20th April 2019 | 2pm | Glenuig Bay
Shore to Shore: A Guided Walk with Ian Strachan & George Smith
Sunday 22nd April 2018 | 12pm | The Boathouse, Roshven House
New Paths 3: Yoko Misumi and Colin Scobie
Join us for a special Easter Sunday performance of Haydn's masterpiece for string quartet: Seven Last Words from The Cross, commissioned in 1786 for the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva in Spain. The work is interspersed with some of Handel's most spiritually beautiful arias, including the famous "Lascia Chio Pianga" and "Ombra mai Fu", sung by soprano Rachel Spencer and accompanied by the Maxwell Quartet.
Rachel Spencer soprano
Maxwell Quartet
Tickets £12 Book >
Chris Stout and Catriona McKay are truly one of the most innovative and exciting folk music duos in the world. We are delighted to welcome them to the shores of Glenuig for this unforgettable performance with special guests, the Maxwell Quartet. We'll be treated to music from their album Bare Knuckle, released in November 2017, and described by Rob Adams of the Herald as "exposing flesh and feelings in a series of conversations that can go right out to the edge of musical expression". Not to be missed!
Tickets £12 | Book>
Internationally renowned pianist Yoko Misumi joins the Maxwell Quartet's Colin Scobie for a recital which continues the exploration of Brahms, with his beautiful Sonata in G major, alongside two great violin sonatas by Mozart and Ravel.
Tickets £10 | Book>
And to close our 2018 festival in style, a programme which brings together all of our amazing festival artists for a unique performance of 20th and 21st century music with a Scandinavian connection which explores the theme of the Sea - one of the most creative spaces as an inspiration point for many composers throughout history. Featuring music by Estonian composer Erkki Sven Tuur, Dutch composer Joey Roukens, Swedish composer Dag Wiren, and Scotland-based Sally Beamish, whose concerto for fiddle and harp with string orchestra, "Seavaigers" was written for Chris Stout and Catriona Mackay in 2011, and will close the 2018 festival in style.
Tickets £12 | Book>
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME 2019
LOCH SHIEL SPRING FESTIVAL 2019
INSPIRATIONS
The 2019 Loch Shiel Festival promises to be a micro-festival of "inspirations", where our artists explore chamber music for strings which has provided inspiration for composers and artists over the centuries. We focus on music by Mozart, one of the founding fathers of chamber music, and explore some of the most diverse offerings of the centuries that followed, including a late masterpiece from Gabriel Fauré, and music inspired by Jewish Klezmer from Shostakovich. Our closing concert is a special Easter Sunday tribute to two great composers, Haydn and Handel.
We round off the festival in style with the Festival Dinner, held at the Prince's House Hotel with a stunning meal provided by one of Scotland's best chefs, Kieron Kelly, and a chance to meet and spend some time with the festival artists. Always a highlight of the festival, always finished off with drinks and informal performances in the bar area afterwards!
Tickets £27.50 Book >
