(Preview) Music at Paxton
Music at Paxton, the Scottish Borders festival of chamber music, returns on 22nd July with an exciting 10-day programme. Singers Roderick Williams and Sarah Connolly give recitals, pianist Pavel Kolesnikov has one solo concert and duets with Samson Tsoy in a second, the Maxwell Quartet complete their three-year residency at the Festival with two concerts, and two young chamber groups, the Echnea Quartet and the Mithras Piano Trio make their Paxton debut. And for a grand finale, Angela Hewitt plays Bach, Mozart and Chopin.
Angus Smith, in his second year as Artistic Director, presents a programme which is an intriguing mix of the familiar and the new. The Maxwells play quartets by Haydn, Brahms and Dvorak, and also excerpts from ‘The Audience’ by Roxanna Panufnik, featuring poems by Wendy Cope, narrated by Jamie McDougall. They’re joined in one concert by young Scots accordionist, Ryan Corbett, who also has a solo recital. Roderick Williams’ concert of British Song includes Butterworth, and Vaughan Williams in the 150th year since his birth, and also features Paxton’s first commission, Sarah Cattley’s settings of works by three women poets.
Last year Paxton staff needed to improvise plans for their first weekend when the change in social distancing was delayed. Berwick Parish Church came to their rescue and was an admirable larger venue. The collaboration continues this year when two concerts take place there on 30th July. The first, a family concert, is by the young members of the Echnea Quartet, with actress and writer, Gerda Stevenson, as narrator. In the second, Berwick organist, Robert Gower, an authority on British organ music, plays a selection of works by Vaughan Williams.
Other events include a masterclass with Roderick Williams and pianist Susie Allan, and folk concerts given in conjunction with Live Music Now Scotland.
The concerts take place in Paxton House’s beautiful Picture Gallery. There’s no social distancing this year, but a rearrangement of seating is promised to give everyone more space. A few ticket prices have been raised slightly, but with most concerts lasting two hours including an interval, these represent good value. The Stables Tearoom provides refreshments before and between concerts and at the interval. There are tables in the garden and in the Marquee if you wish to bring your own picnic.
Paxton House is just off the A1, and a short taxi ride from Berwick Station, so is easily reached in a day-trip from Edinburgh. Booking for Friends begins on 18th April with public booking from 25th April. Details of the programme, Friends’ Memberships and booking can be found on info@musicatpaxton.co.uk
