June - September 2008

The Plush Ensemble opens the festival (June 28th/29th) with two inventive programmes featuring music from the Romantic tradition, juxtaposed with two leading contemporary composers, Saariaho and Kagel.

Pianist Alfred Brendel (July 18th) returns to Plush to play a gala recital as part of his final playing year. The following evening In Celebration of Alfred features some of his closest friends and colleagues performing works including world premieres by Sir Harrison Birtwistle and the prodigiously talented pianist Kit Armstrong.

We also look forward to the return of memorable performers from 2006: Plush favourites the Vertavo quartet and Tim Horton (Fri 29th and Sat 30th August), and Mark Padmore and Till Fellner with Schubert’s great ‘Winterreise’ (Thurs 4th Sep). This is followed by a solo recital (Fri 5th Sep) featuring the superb Serbian pianist Aleksandar Madzar who appeared in 2007 with Anthony Marwood and Louise Hopkins; programme to include Schubert, Haydn and Ravel. And legendary jazz master John Taylor joins Hayden Chisholm and Matt Penman (Sat 6th Sep) to rekindle last year’s trio with fresh material and great expectations.

Finally, IMS Prussia Cove (Mon 29th Sep) bring us their prestigious tour concert for a weekday performance. Packed full of great musicians, it promises to be a rousing finale.

Please join us for our new Open Rehearsals and Pre-concert talks, free events where you have the chance to enjoy the rehearsal process, and share your views with the musicians.

We look forward to seeing you in Plush.

Adrian Brendel
Music Director

Programme 2008

Open Rehearsal Thursday 26th June 6 - 8pm FREE
An informal evening where you are invited to enjoy Smetana and Schoenberg in rehearsal and meet the musicians of the Plush Ensemble.

Plush 1 Saturday, June 28th The Plush Ensemble - Schoenberg, Saariaho, Kagel, Mozart

Plush 2 Sunday, June 29th The Plush Ensemble - Strauss, Scelsi, Smetana

Plush 3 Friday, July 18th Alfred Brendel - Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert

Plush 4 Saturday, July 19th In Celebration of Alfred

Open Rehearsal Thursday 28th August 6 - 8pm FREE
Enjoy the Brahms and Schubert quintets in rehearsal with the Vertavo quartet, Adrian Brendel and Tim Horton.

Plush 5 Friday, August 29th Vertavo Quartet, Adrian Brendel, Tim Horton - Beethoven, Hoeller, Schubert

Plush 6 Saturday, August 30th Vertavo Quartet, Tim Horton - Dvorak, Webern, Brahms

Plush 7 Thursday, September 4th Mark Padmore, Till Fellner - Schubert

Plush 8 Friday, September 5th Aleksandar Madzar - Schoenberg, Schubert, Haydn, Ravel

Plush 9 Saturday, September 6th John Taylor Trio

Plush 10 Monday, September 29th IMS Prussia Cove - Touring Concert