Brecon Baroque
It’s Brecon Baroque Festival time again. Rachel Podger and a selection of world-class baroque musicians will arrive in Brecon for four days of concerts, talks, tours, walks and good food between 20th - 23rd October.
The 2023 Festival focuses on the third stage of the ‘Walk with Bach’ series, looking at JS Bach’s time as Cantor at St Thomas’ Church in Leipzig.
The festival opens on Friday 20th October in Brecon Cathedral with ‘Bach Actually’, an evening of pure JS Bach with Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque and soprano Joanne Lunn. The concert includes Bach’s Audition Cantatas written specially for his audition at St Thomas’ in 1723 and Rachel will play Bach’sViolin Concerto BWV1056a in G minor.
On Saturday evening in Theatr Brycheiniog, we have Brecon Baroque’s long-awaited live performance of the Goldberg Variations, arranged by Chad Kelly. Many festival supporters will have seen the 2020 BBF Online version but there is nothing like it in its live, energetic glory. A must hear and see.
On Sunday evening, Fretwork – described by The Evening Standard as “the best viol consort on the planet” returns for ‘High Flying Byrd’, a celebration of William Byrd’s 400-year legacy, with soprano Ruby Hughes.
On Monday evening, Brecon Baroque Festival Orchestra and Brecon Baroque give us ‘NOW 1731’, an evening of top baroque hits including JS Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor which Rachel plays with Sabine Stoffer ; plus Vivaldi’s Double Oboe Concerto and some rip-roaringTelemann and Hasse.
All this glorious filling is sandwiched together by a new initiative for 2023, two, up-close, slightly more relaxed, ‘Lunchtime Chamber Concerts’ at the Plough Chapel with favourite festival artists and music including Telemann, Carl Friederich Abel (it’s 300 years since he was born) and CPE Bach.There will also be a series of pre-concert talks, a museum tour, a walk up Pen-y-Fan, and pre- concert meal deals offered byThe Hours and theTheatr Cafe.We also see the return ofThe Muse,a festival base to eat and drink, refresh and ponder with friends.
Call the Theatr Brycheiniog Box Office on 01874 611 622 or visit breconbaroquefestival.com.