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| Church of St Mary Magdalene in South Molton where the Two Moors Festival began |
The eighteenth Two Moors Festival ran for 10 days from Friday 12th to Sunday 21st October this year. As always, Penny Adie and her team brought an impressive array of talented artists to Devon (and Somerset) to entertain and amaze the locals - and visitors.
The Festival was conceived by Penny and her husband John Adie in 2001 in response to the devastating effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis on the local economy and tourism. During John's military career, particularly in Oman, Penny had built up her experience, bringing premium performers and paying audiences together in out of the way places. Her skills have been invaluable throughout the eighteen years the Festival has been in operation.
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| Penny & John Adie |
In addition to organising concerts with John, Penny also took part in Lieder recitals and workshops herself and organised the high profile 'Young Musicians Platform Competition' which brought to public attention many young musicians who have since become well-known performers in their own right.
Very sadly, John died in 2015 while the Festival was in full swing, and Penny had to drop out. In subsequent years new staff have come in to support Penny in her continuing work. As ever the Festival showcases talented artists while increasing tourism in the area and attracting support and funding for the musical education of young people.
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| Yevgeni Sudbin |
This year's Festival saw the welcome return of pianist Yevgeny Sudbin on the opening night, and a duo recital between Yevgeny and 'cellist Alexander Caushian the following day. Kaleidoscope Saxophone Quartet gave a classical recital - and a delightful performance of more modern music with local brass bands at the Pannier Market in the home of the Two Moors Festival, South Molton.
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| Tamsin Waley-Cohen |
Other big names included Leonard Gorokhov ('cello), Tamsin Waley-Cohen (Violin), James Beillieu (piano), Joseph Middleton & Stephan Loges (piano and baritone lieder performers), Mark Padmore & Richard Watkins (tenor and horn lieder with Joseph Middleton), Andrey Lebedev (guitar), Thomas Trotter (organ), Peter Facer (oboe), Stephen Kovacevich (piano), Fleur Barron, Lotte Betts-Dean & Charlotte Hewett (mezzosopranos) and resident pianists Johan Barnoin and Harvey Davies. Harvey also stood in at the last moment to play a piano quartet with the Alberni Sting Quartet when one of the violinists was indisposed.
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| Ashley Solomon |
In addition to Ashley Solomon's eagerly awaited 'church-crawl', where he played all twelve Telemann Flute Fantasias in three Dartmoor villages, there were also performances by the resident Alberni String Quartet and the North Devon Sinfonia, plus a masterclass in French song by Dame Felicity Lott (coaching Lotte Betts-Dean & Charlotte Hewett).
Past Young Musicians Competition winners also joined the festival. Joseph Pritchard ('cello), Matilda Wale (soprano) and Alicia Steanson (flute) all performed in the sumptuous eighteenth century James Wyatt Music Room at Powderham Castle, accompanied by resident pianist Johan Barnoin. Polly Bartlett (oboe) joined North Devon Sinfonia in 'The Venue' at Uffculme School to end the Festival in style with Mozart's Oboe Concerto. (Polly won the Platform Competition in 2011 with her fabulous sopranino recorder recital - see "Memories of the Two Moors Festival")
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| Polly Bartlett |
Penny herself also took part presenting a light-hearted musical quiz, and a much more serious discussion of German lieder with Joseph Middleton, at Chagford, following a fascinating day of talks on Dartmoor life at Anran Manor near Ashburton. Gourmet lunches featured along the way, including a blow-out blitz-inspired feast at Dunster on the final weekend.
Still prominent in the listings is the concert given by the winners of this year's 'Young Musicians Competition'. Penny Adie still adjudicates, but the competition and subsequent concert are now organised by Young Musicians Coordinator Sarah Fletcher. This year's performance by the Young Musicians was as impressive as ever (see "Young Musicians Competition Winners Concert"). Many thanks to Sarah, and to pianist Alison Farr who accompanied the finalists. Penny Adie, Artistic Director David Lowes, and Festival Executive Director Karen Malim were also there to give there support and encouragement - and to hand out the prizes.
Andrey is a fabulously talented guitarist with a deft and light touch. Nothing appears difficult for him, and he is able to make the most strenuous passages come across in a gentle and delightful embrace of sound. His technique is so well-honed that he has no need to look at his hands, and plays with his eyes closed as if in a gentle trance. The overall effect is as rapturous as it is impressive.
Included in the recital was a suite of three miniatures by fellow Australian guitarist Brett Dean (brother-in-law of Lotte Betts-Dean). His "Three Caprichos after Goya" took us through a mythical world of monsters and terror featuring extraordinary guitar notation and techniques, all of which Andrey had mastered perfectly.
On the penultimate evening of the Festival, there was a chance to enjoy a semi-staged opera in 'The Venue' at Uffculme School. Six professional operatic singers were joined by Two Moors Festival pianist Harvey Davies to perform Handel's opera "Alcina".
The action takes place on a remote Shakespearian sounding island where the sorceress Alcina has bewitched a young knight, Ruggerio, into loving her instead of his real lover, Bradamante. To confuse matters (in true baroque opera style), Bradamante is passing herself off as her brother Riccardo and immediately attracts the amorous attention of another sorceress, Morgana - to the consternation of Morgana's lover Oronte. Confusion abounds, of course. Fortunately the one remaining character, Ruggiero's tutor Melisso, has accompanied Bradamante and has a magic ring, which allows the wearer to see through illusions, which is very convenient.
Needless to say, each scene takes some explaining to prepare the audience for the arias and recitative that follow. Harvey Davies, who provided magnificent piano accompaniment throughout, also gave a detailed synopsis of each scene. The singers, when they appeared from the wings, acted out the complicated interactions between the characters and sang splendidly.
Fiona Hymns as Alcina was an imposing and overpowering presence. The lesser enchantress Morgana, played by Joanna Norman was less extreme, but equally impressive. Ruggiero, as was customary for leading male characters in baroque opera, was played by the mezzosoprano Heather Lowe. Heather made a very dashing knight and, despite the use of modern dress, could have been imagined in a suit of shining armour. The two confused and unconnected lovers, Bradamante and Oronte, were portrayed very emotionally by soprano Elizabeth Humphries and tenor Timothy Langston. As was also customary in baroque opera, the lowly role of the tutor Melisso went to the mellifluous bass voice of Stuart Orme.
For all its complications, the story was gripping from the start. The choice of arias summarised the story perfectly, and everyone played their part with total conviction. Harvey's non-stop accompaniment on the piano, with total mastery of Handel's intricate score, was equally amazing to see and hear.
By chance or design, Ruggiero's triumphant aria, as he escapes the clutches of Alcina ("Sta nell'lrcana pietrosa tana tigre sdegnosa" - An angry tigress cowers in a cave in Hyrcania), had already featured in the Festival earlier in the week. Young Musicians Competion Winner Madeleine Perring had sung the same piece at the Dulverton Concert the previous Sunday. Madeleine's rendition had been impressive, with her imposing and military bearing. In the drama and excitement of a full performance Heather brought a further fire to the words as she spat defiance at the defeated Alcina. Fiona's outwitted and dejected Alcina was equally moving to watch.
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| Guitarist Andrey Lebedev Festival Executive Director Karen Malim |
There was a very special appearance by guitarist Andrey Lebedev on the morning after his performance of the Boccherini Guitar Quintet with the Alberni Quartet on Wednesday evening at Moretonhampstead. At Bearnes, Hampton & Littlewood Auction House in Okehampton Street, Exeter, following a short, and fascinating, talk on antiques by Christopher Hampton, Andrey gave an informal salon performance of several beautiful pieces by Isaac Albéniz and Francisco Tárrega, starting with Preludes II & III by Heitor Villa-Lobos. The preludes were inspired by Brazilian landscape and culture and the musical heritage of Johann Sebastian Bach. Prelude III, a homage to Bach, led perfectly into Bach's Chaconne in D minor.
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| Guitar: Andrey Lebedev |
Included in the recital was a suite of three miniatures by fellow Australian guitarist Brett Dean (brother-in-law of Lotte Betts-Dean). His "Three Caprichos after Goya" took us through a mythical world of monsters and terror featuring extraordinary guitar notation and techniques, all of which Andrey had mastered perfectly.
Following the recital, in familiar Two Moors Festival style, lunch was served with a choice of elderflower cordial or Prosecco. The audience were able to take a look at some of the exotic items awaiting auction (including the montages of anthropomorphic squirrels and other wild animals formerly at the Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor) - and to talk informally with Andrey about his spectacular playing and musical career. Top marks to Executive Director Karen Malim for organising such a surprising and successful morning of musical entertainment.
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| Cast of "Alcina" at The Venue Oronte: Timothy Langston Ruggerio: Heather Lowe Alcina: Fiona Hymns Morgana: Joanna Norman Bradamante: Elizabeth Humphries Melisso: Stuart Orme Accompanist & Narrator: Harvey Davies |
On the penultimate evening of the Festival, there was a chance to enjoy a semi-staged opera in 'The Venue' at Uffculme School. Six professional operatic singers were joined by Two Moors Festival pianist Harvey Davies to perform Handel's opera "Alcina".
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| Fiona Hymns |
Needless to say, each scene takes some explaining to prepare the audience for the arias and recitative that follow. Harvey Davies, who provided magnificent piano accompaniment throughout, also gave a detailed synopsis of each scene. The singers, when they appeared from the wings, acted out the complicated interactions between the characters and sang splendidly.
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| Heather Lowe |
For all its complications, the story was gripping from the start. The choice of arias summarised the story perfectly, and everyone played their part with total conviction. Harvey's non-stop accompaniment on the piano, with total mastery of Handel's intricate score, was equally amazing to see and hear.
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| Stuart Orme |
Thanks must go once again to the Festival's Executive Director, Karen Malim, for organising such a compelling performance to entertain the Festival audience. This year's selection of concerts has been a joy from start to finish!
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| Schubert the Sheep Official Mascot of the Two Moors Festival in 'The Venue' at Uffculme School |
