What's On?

Free, but tickets required from the Box Office.

A concert to celebrate the work of young musicians in the area who have benefited from the Greenham Trust Music Bursary over the past five years.

During that time, local music charity Berkshire Maestros has worked in partnership with Greenham Trust to ensure more children in West Berkshire are given access to singing or instrumental lessons regardless of background or circumstance.

Come along to show your support for these talented local youngsters and enjoy the wonderful music they make. This is a marvellous way to help celebrate their achievements.

Free, No ticket required.

Tom Primrose chorus master

Newbury Spring Festival Chorus

Steve Bowey - organ

Continuing the successful reintroduction of the Festival Evensong the Newbury Spring Festival Chorus, under the direction of its new chorus master Tom Primrose will be singing a traditional Evensong service at St Mary's Church, Speen. Music for the service will include Stanford's setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B flat, and the anthem; Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem.

£20. Free for Under 25s.

Musicians from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra

Mark Armstrong    musical director

NYJO is a glittering showcase for the UK's finest young professional jazz musicians, combining a hard-swinging rhythm section and a raft of hugely talented soloists. Under the Artistic Direction of Mark Armstrong, the 23-piece orchestra perform around 40 concerts a year both nationally and internationally. Over its 53-year history, NYJO has helped launch the careers of many of the country's most renowned jazz musicians including Guy Barker, Amy Winehouse, Mark Nightingale and Laura Jurd.

Expect swinging jazz classics alongside modern arrangements from the UK's prominent big band of young professionals. Included in the programme will be a focus on Female Jazz Icons, as composers, lyricists, songwriters and of course vocalists with some special commissions for NYJO from leading UK female jazz musicians.

"Forget the word youth, this is one of the best bands you will ever hear." Sir John Dankworth

£42, £32, £22.

Thomas Sanderling conductor

Mikhail Kazakevich - piano

Shostakovich              Festive Overture

Rachmaninov         Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Tchaikovsky         Symphony No. 6 Pathétique

Russian Philharmonic Orchestra of Novosibirsk has been well-known outside Siberia for a long time and is now considered one of the top orchestras in Russia, touring extensively throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

For this evening's concert, they bring three giants of the Russian repertoire. The concert opens with Shostakovich's rousing Festive Overture. The orchestra will then be joined by pianist Mikhail Kazakevich, who is well-known to the Festival audiences through his recent appearances at the Sheepdrove recital, for a performance of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini.

The evening concludes with perhaps one of the defining works of the Romantic period - Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, the Pathetique, his tragic farewell to the world.

Bells, Camera, Action featuring music from stage and screen performed on 96 handbells by 14 ringers.

Light refreshments will be available in the interval.

Tickets: £6 full, £5 concessions, accompanied children 16 yrs and under free. Available from Picture It, High Street,Thatcham or on the door.

£20 unreserved seating; includes afternoon tea.

A wonderful opportunity to hear the best international piano students drawn from all the major UK conservatoires - and to cast your vote for the audience prize!

Now in its eleventh year, this notable competition, established by the Sheepdrove Trust, is open to candidates aged 26 and under from the eight major UK music colleges, and attracts young pianists of the highest standard from around the world. Today?s competition, which this year has an emphasis on Mozart, features four shortlisted finalists and takes place in the tranquil setting of Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre on the Lambourn Downs.

The overall winner will perform a solo recital in the Corn Exchange on Monday 20th May as part of the Festival's popular Young Artists Lunchtime Recital Series.

Jury

Francoise Clerc Head of Classical Music, Bureau Export, Paris Mark Eynon Director, Newbury Spring Festival Mikhail Kazakevich Russian pianist and Professor of Piano, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance Lucy Parham British pianist and Professor of Piano, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London John Thwaites British pianist and Head of Keyboard, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire David Whelton former Managing Director, Philharmonia Orchestra

1st Prize: The Kindersley Prize of £2,000 2nd Prize: £1,000 donated by Greenham Trust 3rd Prize: £500 donated by the Friends of NSF 4th Prize: £250 donated by an anonymous donor Audience Prize: £250 donated by an anonymous donor

£10.00 Adults, £5.00 Children under 16

Thomas Carroll    conductor

Saint-Saëns         Carnival of the Animals

Prokoviev           Peter and the Wolf

This delightful concert, suitable for all the family, will bring young people face-to-face with two of the greatest works for children - namely Prokofiev-s colourful Peter and the Wolf and Saint-Saëns' atmospheric Carnival of the Animals.

Peter and the Wolf is an enduring musical story based on an original narration by the composer. With each character in the story represented by a different instrument and sound, it is the perfect introduction to the orchestra.

The theme continues with Saint-Saëns' charming portrayal of different animals in each of the movements, including a lion, donkey, and elephant, as well as fossils, an aquarium, an aviary and - SaintSaëns' little joke - pianists, possibly the most dangerous animal of them all...

Come and meet Peter, his grandfather, the hunters, the villainous wolf and a whole zoo of animals - all brought to life by the dynamic Orpheus Sinfonia.

Michael Buchanan, Emma Bassett, Joseph Arnold, James Buckle.

Studio 5 comprises four outstanding British trombone, regulars with some of the world's greatest orchestras, including Vienna Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. Tonight's concert offers an insight into the world of the trombone - as seen through some of its historically greatest proponents - as well as some newly pick-pocketed transcriptions from opera?s most stunning moments.

Surrender to the solemnity of the music Beethoven wrote for trombone quartet for his own funeral cortege through the streets of Vienna, tap toes to the Geographical Fugue for four speaking voices by Ernst Toch (the legendary Berlin composer from the Swinging Twenties), and relish in the majesty of the music used to this day to open the legendary Vienna Philharmonic Ball.

£10 Recital only, £16 Recital and lunch, £48 Series ticket for all 6 lunchtime recitals, £84 Series ticket for all 6 lunchtime recitals with lunch.

Newbury Spring Festival is delighted to welcome the winner of the 11th Sheepdrove Piano Competition to the Corn Exchange to perform a recital as part of the Festival's Young Artists Lunchtime Series.

The prestigious competition, open to students from all the major UK conservatoires, was founded in 2009 by the Sheepdrove Trust. The winning pianist?s programme will feature works by Mozart.

Today's recital is an opportunity to hear more of the winning pianist following the competition held at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre, Lambourn on Sunday 19 May.

£16 talk only, £21 talk and afternoon tea.

To mark the 200th birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on 23rd May 1819, her biographer the distinguished author A N Wilson will talk about her reign, focusing on her partnership with Prince Albert and their legacy.

A N Wilson has written over twenty novels as well as historical and biographical works, including the universally acclaimed Victoria, and The Victorians which was a bestseller in many languages.

Among his many prizes are the Whitbread Prize for Biography and the E M Forster prize in America. A N Wilson is a member of the American Society of Arts and Literature, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

£20

Christian Garrick violin, doumbek

Eddie Hession             button accordion

Kelly Cantlon             double bass

Adrian Zolotuhin  guitar, saz, balalaika, domra

Led by jazz violin superstar Christian Garrick, The Budapest Café Orchestra play traditional folk and gypsy-flavoured music from across the Balkans and Russia. Klezmer, Romanian Doinas, Hungarian Czadas and beautiful ballads - such as the theme to Schindler's List and Andy Statman?s beautiful Flatbush Waltz - are all featured.

Evoking vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires - plus a few surprises along the way - hugely entertaining, immense skill and profound musicianship, a show by the BCO is good enough to make you want to book that holiday down the Danube! Like the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain the Budapest Café Orchestra have won legions of fans through their infectious performances.

"The music is magic in their hands." Sean Rafferty BBC Radio 3

£20

Adam Walker - flute

Timothy Ridout - viola

Lucy Wakeford - harp

Bax                    Elegiac Trio

CPE Bach          Sonata for solo Flute

Ravel                 Tombeau De Couperin

Britten               Lachrymae

Prokofiev (arr. Cohen) 6 movements from Romeo and Juliet

LSO principal flute and International soloist Adam Walker will join last year's Young Artist violist Timothy Ridout and distinguished British harpist Lucy Wakeford in a programme of solos, duets and trios by Bax, CPE Bach, Ravel, Britten & Prokofiev.

"Its gently lyrical flute lines... were beautifully sculpted by LSO principal Adam Walker." The Guardian

"So sweet and true and clear is the sound made by... Adam Walker, that listening to the quivering triplets and limber falling thirds of the solo line is reward enough..." The Times

£10 Recital only, £16 Recital and lunch, £48 Series ticket for all 6 lunchtime recitals, £84 Series ticket for all 6 lunchtime recitals with lunch.

Simone Pirri - violin

Alice Poppleton - violin

Jacob Garside - cello

Toby Carr - theorbo

Join Figo as they explore the impact of virtuosic Italian masters of their English counterparts, particularly those working in London.

They will look at the influence and legacy of the 'Italian greats' from the 17th and 18th centuries and how they helped shape the English compositional style, hearing music from three of England's most significant baroque composers.

Today's recital will include a selection of works by Purcell, Corelli, Boyce and Vivaldi.

"Pleasing grace." The Telegraph

£20

Harry's extraordinary talent and breathtaking creativity have earned him a reputation as one of the most gifted improvising pianists in the world. Celebrities and critics alike have lined up to shower him with praise often smacking of astonishment.

Taking live requests to play any song in any style as featured on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 and BBC TV's Children in Need, he has filled the Albert Hall, launched the QM2 and headlined at festivals worldwide. Expect musical comedy of 'staggering virtuosity' by 'The New Victor Borge' and understand why 'You have never heard a piano played like this before!'

"The best damn pianist in the civilised world!" Jonathan Ross

"One of the most gifted improvisers in the world." Classic FM

£25, £20

Alex Redington - violin

Ying Xue -  violin

Hélène Clément - viola

John Myerscough - cello

Haydn                  String Quartet Op 33 No2

Martinu                String Quartet No 3

Beethoven            String Quartet Op 131

The Doric String Quartet has firmly established itself as the leading British string quartet of its generation, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics across the globe. We're delighted to welcome them back to the Festival for a concert in the wonderful surroundings of Englefield House.

"The players moved together with absolute unanimity." The Strad

Don Black is perhaps best-known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and for the James Bond theme songs he co-wrote with composer John Barry: Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever and The Man with the Golden Gun.

For this special event at the private home of Andrew Lloyd Webber, writer, broadcaster and interviewer Edward Seckerson, famed for interviewing the most prominent artists in operatic and musical theatre, is in conversation with Don Black about his life and career.

£10 Recital only, £16 Recital and lunch, £48 Series ticket for all 6 lunchtime recitals, £84 Series ticket for all 6 lunchtime recitals with lunch.

Samantha Crawford - soprano

Gavin Roberts - piano

Samantha Crawford was awarded the Golden Medal with Honours at the 2017 Berliner International Music Competition, the NSW Wagner Society Emerging Singers Award and the Tait Trust Julian Baring Award. In 2016 she won First Prize at the Wagner Society Singing Competition.

She is joined here by pianist, Gavin Roberts, they have performed frequently together since meeting during their studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where Gavin is now a Professor.

In their recital they will present a programme of English and French songs culminating in Strauss' Four Last Songs.

£10, Free for Under 25s.

University of Chichester Musical Theatre Festival Company

Miranda Kingsley  director

Stuart Hutchinson musical director

Wendy White       choreographer

Ryan Laight          set and costume designer

The University of Chichester's celebrated Musical Theatre Festival Company bring to the Festival this rarely performed musical farce - Lucky Stiff, the first collaboration for the team of Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music).

Lucky Stiff is based on the novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo and is an off-beat, hilarious murder mystery farce - complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds and a corpse in a wheelchair.

The story revolves around an unassuming English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his recently murdered uncle on vacation to glitzy Monte Carlo. Should he succeed in passing his uncle off as alive, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6,000,000. If not, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn... or else his uncle's gun-toting ex!

£20, Free for Under 25s.

Thibaut Garcia - guitar

Hailed as 'the new face of classical guitar' after winning every major international guitar competition within the space of just a few months, Thibaut Garcia has had the critics reaching for new superlatives, as well as comparisons with the great guitarists of the past.

Described as a young Frenchman with an old Spanish soul, his passionate and charismatic playing has resulted in sold-out tours across North and South America, which he now follows with a performance at the Newbury Spring Festival.

His programme is taken from his two recent Warner Classics recordings, Bach Inspirations and Leyendas, ranging from Bach to Piazolla and drawing inspiration from the many cultures experienced on his extensive travels.

"...one of the most promising young contemporary guitarists..." Classical Guitar

£20, Free for Under 25s.

Julian Bliss - clarinet

Martin Shaw - trumpet

Lewis Wright - vibraphone

Neal Thornton - piano

Colin Oxley - guitar

Tim Thornton - bass

Ed Richardson - kit

Award-winning clarinettist Julian Bliss will bring The Julian Bliss Septet to the Festival, to take you on a trip through some of the great tunes of the swing era, focusing on the work of the great Benny Goodman. Like Julian, Goodman began playing the clarinet from a young age and was performing on stage by the age of twelve.

Performing some of Benny Goodman's best-known tunes, Julian will talk you through the music, sharing anecdotes and stories about Goodman's life with a characteristic dose of tongue-in-cheek humour. Expect favourites such as: Lady Be Good (Rifftide), Georgia Brown, Sing Sing Sing, Don't be that Way, Stompin' at the Savoy and Memories of You.

"Bliss is capable of swinging mightily and adapting his formidable technique to the task at hand." The Jazz Times

£20

Tom Herring and Benjamin Cunningham, artistic directors.

After last year's hugely successful performance at the Festival, SANSARA make a welcome return with this specially crafted programme exploring the eternal duality of love and loss through the juxtaposition of works by masters of the renaissance with contemporary voices and arrangements of well-known popular, jazz and folk songs.

The programme features the stunning polyphony of Tallis, Victoria and Clemens alongside more homophonic textures and striking harmony of MacMillan and Britten, combining to conjure an intimate and evocative atmosphere of passionate devotion.

Come and enjoy exploring different media and methods using all your senses, not just the visual with experienced tutor and artist, Sally Haynes. Some art experience is required for this course and participants will need to bring their own 'art box' where Sally supports you to draw with all your senses and to develop your work in a variety of ways.