YOUTH & EXPERIENCE
How do composers develop and change with life experience, inspiration and seismic cultural change. And how do we musicians mature through life in the same way? These were some of my thoughts as I was putting together the programme for this year‘s Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival. All of us, whichever stage of life we are at, can hopefully look to music and concert experiences as moments of beauty and even perhaps profundity. Such experiences have sometimes been markers along the journey. That’s one of the reasons I feel so lucky to have music and fellow musicians and audience members in my life. I very much hope each of you feel the same way. This year’s festival will be an extravaganza of incredible young talent and world-class established musicians. PICMF is honoured to have a world premiere from Brett Dean who will be playing in the string trio version of his ‘I Starred Last night, I shone’ together with me, Nurit Stark and Lotte Betts-Dean. Lotte will be gracing the stage with her beautiful talent once again, as will Nurit – both of them wowing the audiences last year. A highlight will surely be another solo performance by Nurit of the Veress Sonata ( “blistering“ was the word used in the Strad magazine by Charlotte Gardner after last year’s solo Bartok recital in Worth Matravers). I am also excited to present Einav Yarden for the first time here – a pianist and personality that will bring each of you joy I am sure! I am thrilled that violinist Priya Mitchell is also back in Purbeck and equally thrilled to welcome one of my most treasured colleagues, Henning Kraggerud and his phenomenal family. I was introduced to Aoife Ní Bhriain’s work through Nurit and welcoming her both playing Mendelssohn and some folk Irish fiddle improvisations will surely be a highlight. Tatu Kauppinen also comes to Purbeck for the first time and I know each of you will be in awe of his refined and deeply skilled musicianship. And then we welcome the new generation – Kiki Skinner, Alma, Franz and Hector Kraggerud. I am not sure we’ve ever welcomed such a wealth of talent in one go to Purbeck. And finally, we welcome Judge Theodore Meron, a man of the richest and deepest wisdom and human experience, and a particular lover of Schubert, and Robert Rinder, passionate about music in all its forms. We will be discussing music and its importance in our lives as time moves forward. Thank you each of you for joining us this year – you are an integral part of why we continue to bring this festival to you all each summer. I also want to thank all of our supporters and especially our past and current Friends, Angels and Patrons, we couldn’t do any of this without you. If you wish to help us carry on, please consider joining our Friends, Angels and Patrons scheme on page 40. We love widening the circle of Friends as much as possible! – Natalie Clein, Artistic Director
