August 2009

The second Haydn Festival in Eszterhaza - 25 August to 4 September.
Four superb concerts, including the world famous Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Quatruor Mosaïques. To hear great orchestras and quartets playing instruments of Haydn's time in the room for which Haydn wrote this music is a unique experience. There will be another opportunity to hear more concerts in this ammazing setting next year.

Divertimenti in Corfu Festival - 27 September to 4 October.
This year is the most interesting we have ever had, with the brilliant Herold Quartet from Prague and six concerts in three wonderful venues. This is proving very popular and only two places remain, so book soon. Recently I visited the famous Glinavos Winery in Zitsa on the Greek mainland. Lord Byron, the famous English poet, stayed at the Zitsa Monastery 200 years ago and we are having a special concert to celebrate this. We take the ferry from Corfu to Igoumenitsa on the mainland and are met by a bus which takes us to Dodoni, the oldest of the ancient Greek oracles, and the site of one of the most famous ancient Amphitheatres. Then to Ioannina, the charming city on the lake with much of historic interest, and on to Zitsa to visit the monastery, and then to the Glinavos winery. This is one of the most famous of the Greek Wineries winning many international medals. Here we have a tour and tastings before the concert.  The wonderful programme, which includes Beethoven op 131, will be followed by a buffet dinner with wines before we return to Corfu that evening. The two days in Albania in the first week of the Corfu Chamber Music Holiday are packed with interest. Butrint, one of the most amazing archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, with the stunning excavations from prehistoric times through the many civilizations, will be a highlight. Plans for 2010 promise to be even more interesting!

Prague Christmas - 21 to 29 December. 
This is a really magical time of year in one of my favorite places. Superb concerts, opera and ballet, and a magical festive atmosphere and the world famous Christmas Market in the Old Town Square. Bookings are now open with generous discounts for payments before 25 August. It is wise to book early as tickets for the opera and ballet are sold out quickly.  Do join us for a memorable Christmas season.

Prague Spring Festival - 20 May to 1 June.
The Prague Spring Festival is one of the most famous and prestigeous in Europe. We have eight concerts and one opera during our stay. The atmosphere in this stunning city is very special at this time with music everywhere, lots of spring flowers and so many green areas and parks. The great Czech cellist, Michal Kanka will be celebrating his 50th birthday on 23rd May with a recital in the Prague Spring Festival and on 31st with the Prazak Quartet. Both these concerts will be in our Prague Spring Programme. Michal has a highly successful career worldwide as a soloist, as well as being cellist of the Prazak Quartet and the Kanka family are very much part of our "musical family". We will be having a special party for his birthday. There are five other concerts and two operas. Don Giovanni at the Estates theatre where Mozart conducted the first performance is always memorable and the other at the National Theatre - always superb performances. Bookings are now open with a substantial discount for early payment. Several people have already written to me asking about this so it would be advisable to book early.

In 2010 Budapest will be added to Vienna and Eszterhaza, a superb city with much of musical interest. I shall be visiting Budapest soon to double check on the hotel and other arrangements. I have some friends who have excellent contacts in the music world and I am sure we will have some very special visits and excursions, in addition to concerts and opera. The Vienna and Eszterhaza Holiday was such a success this year and Budapest will make this even more special. Details on the website by mid September.

More news next month. Once again thank you all for your interest and support and please forward this Newsletter to friends who may be interested. Do continue to send me contacts with people who may be interested in joining us. Thank you to everyone who has sent me their change of email address; this is most helpful. I hope to see you later this year or in 2010. (If you have written an email to me which has not been answered, please re-send it as I am still finding important emails and application forms in junk or spam filters.)

All best wishes for a wonderful end of summer full of lots of music.
Vivienne E. Pittendrigh

Previous Newsletters

June 2009
May 2009
February 2009
December 2008
October 2008