Our three-day Winter Warmer in Berkhamsted, Great Missenden and Henley-on-Thames was a wonderful way to start the season! Thank you so much to those of you who joined us, and we can’t wait to see you again in May!
We began with a deep-dive into Rilke’s Ninth Elegy with Dr Mark Burrows; visited Northumbria with traditional piping and clog dancing from Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher, not to mention the excellent dinner that followed at The Gatsby in Berkhamsted; heard new music from the next generation of composers from The Purcell School; lived through the period of Beethoven’s life during which he composed his String Quartets, hearing his words spring off the page with Anton Lesser and his music come to life with the Carducci Quartet; and explored the musical influences connected to Herbert Howells with the Somerville College Choir.
Enjoy exploring a little bit of this magic through these photos from Matthew Johnson and James Beddoe…
![]( "Dr Mark Burrows")
Dr Mark Burrows engages an enraptured audience in conversation about Rainer Maria Rilke and the Long Experience of Love at The Mad Squirrel Taproom in Berkhamsted (2nd March 2023). Photo: James Beddoe
![]( "Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher")
Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher rehearse at The Gatsby. Photo: James Beddoe
![]( "Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher")
Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher in performance at The Gatsby — an evening featuring Northumbrian pipes, accordion, fiddle, audience participation and clog dancing as well as fabulous food. Photo: James Beddoe
![]( "Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher")
Kathryn and Amy in action at the Gatsby. Photo: James Beddoe
![]( "Anton Lesser")
Anton Lesser brings Beethoven's words to life as part of our Beethoven Letters programme with the Carducci Quartet in Great Missenden. Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "Anton Lesser")
Anton Lesser in rehearsal with the Carducci Quartet in Great Missenden. Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "Joseph Howard, composer")
Joseph Howard introduces compositions by students from the Purcell School, performed by the Carducci Quartet in Great Missenden. Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "Composers and Performers in Great Missenden")
The Carducci Quartet surrounded by composers from The Purcell School, with Joseph Howard, composer and compère (right) and Naomi Taylor, Chiltern Arts Creative Director (left). Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "The Carducci Quartet")
A final flourish from the Carducci Quartet. Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "Carducci Quartet and Anton Lesser")
Anton Lesser reads Beethoven's words as the Carducci Quartet prepare to bring the words to life through Beethoven's music. Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "Audience in Great Missenden")
Audience mill around the beautiful Church of St Peter and St Paul in Great Missenden during the interval of the Beethoven Letters programme. Photo: Matthew Johnson Photographer
![]( "Somerville College Choir")
Somerville College Choir with their director Will Dawes in rehearsal at St Mary's Church, Henley-on-Thames. Photo: James Beddoe
![]( "Somerville College Choir")
Somerville College Choir in rehearsal at St Mary's Church, Henley-on-Thames. Photo: James Beddoe
![]( "Somerville College Choir")
Somerville College Choir on stage in St Mary's Church, Henley-on-Thames. Photo: James Beddoe
