Hellensmusic Festival returns to Herefordshire

Hellensmusic Festival returns to Herefordshire from 3rd to 7th May 2017 with the biggest programme to date

Artistic Directors Christian Blackshaw and Máté Szücs lead a group of internationally acclaimed musicians in fifth year of the festival which brings the finest music-making to the heart of rural Herefordshire.

World-class concerts, masterclasses and a trip to the pub – the fifth Hellensmusic promises programming favourites and a couple of surprises.

Firmly established as one of the main musical calendar events in Herefordshire, Hellensmusic kicks off on Wednesday 3rd May at St Bartholomew’s Church, Much Marcle with a special opening concert featuring the freshly crowned  Barnardo’s National Senior School Choir of the Year’ Cantabile Girls’ Choir from Hereford’s Cathedral School. Reflecting the festival’s growing involvement with the local music community, they will sing a selection of madrigals, sacred partsongs and traditional folk songs from Europe and the British Isles under the direction of Jo Williamson.

Thursday 4th May sees the return of Christian Blackshaw’s solo piano recital at the church with a programme of Mozart and Schumann. Friday 5th May continues at Hellens with an evening dedicated to Schubert’s chamber music, performed by resident artists Markus Däunert (Aldeburgh Strings), Maya Iwabuchi (Royal Scottish National Orchestra), Máté Szücs (Berlin Philharmonic), Bruno Delepelaire (Berlin Philharmonic) and Waldemar Schwiertz (Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra). A concert featuring masterworks by Schumann, Gubaidulina and Mozart completes the main programme on Saturday 6th May with all artists coming together at Hellens’ Great Barn.

Sat evening continues in Ledbury with Hellensmusic’s first ever pub concert promising a dazzling blend of folk, classical and world music. Máté Szücs is joined by gypsy violinist Béla Farkas (Szeged Symphony Orchestra) and acclaimed pianist Julien Quentin on a journey of unexpected pairings and unforgettable tunes that will take over the Feathers Hotel’s pub from 9.45pm.

The final concert takes place on Sunday 7th May at Hellens’ Great Barn and is the culmination of Hellensmusic’s Masterclass Programme.

Festival goers are welcome to spend the day at Hellens, whether enjoying a garden picnic, with superb views over the Malvern Hills, or attending masterclasses which are free and open to the general public.

Tickets cost from £5 to £17 and are available from Hereford Courtyard’s Box Office 01432 340555 or online. Also from Ice Bytes (Ledbury), River Music (Ross-on-Wye), Premier Stores (Much Marcle)

Visit our What’s on pages for further information on events.