Artists in harmony for this year’s Hampstead Arts Festival
Friday, 9th November 2018 — By Sebastian Taylor
![Evelyn Glennie [credit Jim Callaghan] square copy](/media/2018/11/Evelyn-Glennie-credit-Jim-Callaghan-square-copy.jpg "Artists in harmony for this year’s Hampstead Arts Festival")
Evelyn Glennie performs on November 20. Photo: Jim Callaghan
There are eight terrific concerts in this year’s Hampstead Arts Festival starting this Sunday – and the array of excellent local and national musicians is quite remarkable.
Concerts are at St John’s Downshire Hill except where stated and tickets for all concerts start at £10.
Saturday, November 10: Voices of Kristallnacht – Crystal Night. Music and readings commemorating the 80th anniversary of the night of November 9-10, 1938, when German Nazis attacked Jews and their property. Among performers are tenor Nerbert Meyn, baritone Simon Wallfisch, cellist Gemma Rossefield, pianists Danny Driver and Christopher Gould.
Tuesday, November 13: London premiere of Kokoschka’s Doll, a new chamber opera by John Casken. This is a piece about the messy affair between painter Oskar Kokoschka and Mahler’s widow, Alma. Bass-baritone Sir John Tomlinson relates the story and mezzo Rozanna Madylus is Alma.
Saturday, November17: Verdi’s Requiem at Hampstead Parish Church. Performers are church soloists and choir, HAF Festival Chorus, Orpheus Sinfonia. Peter Foggitt conducts.
Monday, November 19: Stunning van Kuijk Quartet plays Beethoven, Ligeti and Debussy.
Tuesday, November 20 at South Hampstead High School. Unique concert performed by Scottish ensemble Trio HLK and the world’s premier solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.
Saturday, November 24 at Hampstead Parish Church. Superb coupling of Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Vaughan Williams’ cantata Dona Nobis Pacem. Performing are absolutely fantastic cellist Gemma Rosefield, church choir and Orpheus Sinfonia. George Vass conducts the Elgar piece and Peter Foggitt looks after the VW cantata.
Monday, November 26: Super opera star baritone Roderick Williams performs songs based on Great War poems. Pianist is Susie Allen.
Thursday, November 29. Imogen Cooper – one of the world’s finest pianists – plays a 30-minute recital before engaging in conversation with LBC broadcaster, Matt Stadlen.
• Full festival details at www.hamspteadartsfestival.com
