20^th Burton Bradstock Festival -18^th & 19^th August

August would not be the same without the Burton Bradstock Festival. It was with great pleasure we learned that Mary Ryan, without whom there would be no concerts, had once more organised a festival for us. On Friday we had an evening of Chamber music, the choice of which was perfect for the intimate atmosphere of the Church. David Mason opened the concert with his splendid playing of the Trumpet Tune by John Stanley. Mary Ryan and Hubert Dawkes, who always play so beautifully together, performed a Sonata for Flute and piano by Gaubert. In the Turino Piano Trio and the Haydn String Quartet Op 3 no 5 in F, we were treated to some beautiful ensemble playing with fine tone and phrasing. After the Trumpet Minuet by Hollins, David Jutitz, violin, Martin Kegellmann, violin, John Couling, viola, and Helena Binney, cello were joined by the well known clarinetist, Colin Bradbury, for a delightful performance of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, one of his most enchanting and moving works. The audience was delighted to see the return of all the London Festival Players on the Saturday evening. This concert was once again opened by David Mason playing a Sonata for Trumpet and Strings by Purcell; followed by the well loved Adagio by Albinoni. We then enjoyed two Bach concertos; John Couling playing the Viola Concerto in A .and David Juritz giving a lovely interpretation of the Violin Concerto in A minor. A warm welcome was given to the return of Norman Jones, who gave a spirited rendering of the Variations on One String for Cello by Paganini. The evening ended with the London Festival Players joining Mary Ryan and Norman; under the baton of John Couling, in his own arrangement of the Variations on a Theme from the Magic Flute, by Beethoven.

Mike Southgate

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