A POPULAR classical music festival is returning for five days of world-class concerts next week.
The fourth annual HELLENSMUSIC festival will take place in the charming setting of Hellens, one of England’s oldest manor houses, in March Marcle from Wednesday (May 18) to Sunday, May 22 and will be recorded by BBC Radio Three.
Quickly establishing itself as bringing the finest music to the heart of rural Herefordshire, the festival will feature performances by celebrated pianist and HELLENSMUSIC artistic director Christian Blackshaw, as well as a group of exceptional musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Adam Munthe, director of HELLENSMUSIC, said: “The festival seems to be catching on as the comments, requests and bookings already coming in are full of excitement and expectancy.
“It’s wonderful for us to sense this enthusiasm from the internationally renowned musicians who generously come back for more each year, from the young future soloists in the music colleges to the local schoolchildren preparing the music they will perform.”
The programme will run each night from 8pm and on Sunday from 11.30am in Hellens’ Great Barn and the village’s St. Bart’s Church.
Concerts with master class students from the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama will run from Wednesday (May 18) to Saturday, May 21, from 10.30am to 1.30pm in the Great Barn, Music Room, Dining Room and Haywain Barn.
Evening concerts cost £17 for adults and £5 for students, master class concerts cost £9 for adults and is free for students and there is a festival saver ticket, which costs £85 and allows entry to all the concerts, master classes and pre-concert suppers.
Tickets are available from Hereford Courtyard’s Box Office on 01432 340555 and from shops across the county including Outback in Hereford, Ice Bytes in Ledbury, River Music in Ross on Wye and Premier Stores in Much Marcle.
Visit www.hellensmusic.com or call Versatile Arts on 01531 660801 for more information.
