Dear Concertgoer,

This year we are focusing on Burnham Thorpe, for a number of reasons, by far the most important being the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Lord Nelson. We seem to have only just got over the razzle-dazzle of the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, but it is fitting this year for Burnham Thorpe, where Nelson was born on 29th September 1858, to honour his memory. We are marking this with a concert that includes the world première of a piece commissioned for the occasion. In the spirit of this celebration the young East Anglian composer, Joseph Phibbs, is writing a song cycle for soprano and string quartet, setting poems by Nicholas Heiney from the collection of his writings entitled ‘The Silence at the Song’s End’.  The poems are the work of a young man with extraordinary visionary qualities and a deep love of the sea, where he spent much of his short adult life. Joseph Phibbs is regarded as one of the most exciting composers of his generation. His works have been played by numerous prestigious musicians and his piece, Lumina, premièred at the Last Night of the Proms in 2003, was shortlisted for a British Academy Award.

We are delighted that the Solstice Quartet, together with Sylvia O’Brien, will be performing this new work, together with quartets by Haydn and Beethoven – both contemporaries of Nelson’s. The Solstice Quartet formed at Cambridge is an ensemble of outstanding vitality and musicality. They make their Wigmore Hall debut in February 2009.   Sylvia O’Brien made her operatic debut as the Governess in Britten’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’ in 2004. Her vocal and musical skills have led her to become an important singer of contemporary repertoire both here and abroad.

On 23rd August – the Bank Holiday weekend – we have organised a concert which will suit all age groups. Two artists at the top of their profession come together for a magical mix of pieces that shows off a wide variety of colour and texture, together with brilliant virtuosity. Judith Hall (flute) and Craig Ogden (guitar) have both performed for the Burnham Market Concerts on separate occasions, so it is very exciting to welcome them again for a combined recital.

With the explosion of events in North Norfolk during the summer, pressures on my own time and a new group of helpers in place, we decided this year to confine our activities to these two concerts (and the commission) so that our audience does not feel swamped by choice. We have always striven for quality, rather than quantity, so I hope we will be forgiven for reducing our programme for this year. We wish to keep the logistics as simple as possible, whilst nurturing the new team – we don’t want to frighten them off!

We have introduced a two tier price system this year in the hopes that families will bring their young to the concerts, both of which are suitable for them. Tickets always sell fast and I would urge you to book as soon as possible for reserved seats. The starting time – both at 6pm – with neither concert lasting more than two hours including interval, has proved popular, allowing our audience to have dinner afterwards. Wine and soft drinks will be served, as usual, from 5.30pm and during the interval.

We look forward very much to seeing you at the concerts.

info@burnhammarketconcerts.org.uk