The annual appearance at the Calne Festival of Arts and Music is always a jolly outreach occasion and this year we were able to offer two concerts to make up for the lack of a performance last year due to COVID-19. A full and appreciative audience assembled in the attractive setting of Marden House, bedecked with an array of beautiful paintings, and witnessed a fabulous spectacle of musical talent from Marlborough College musicians.
Josh T (Sh) opened the performance with a sublime and perfectly crafted rendition of Purcell’s Music for a While, followed by a refined and composed presentation of some solo Bach on cello by Bo G (Sh). Molly D (L6) then provided tremendous contrast and drama in Rachmaninov’s C# minor Prelude, Liv M (Hu) offered real commitment and expression in her own Bach performance and Theo M (Re) changed the mood with a committed and purposeful delivery of Malcolm Arnold’s Prelude and Waltz. Fred V (Hu) continued the English music theme with a lyrical and elegant display of Paul Reade’s Summer from Kitchen Garden before the English pastoral scene was shattered by Poppy M (L6) and Chicha N’s (L6) explosive and vibrant Argentinian Libertango. Florence M (Sh) allowed us all to gather our breath with a most polished and musical showing before we returned to the more gypsy feel with Dima M’s (Hu) spirited and engaging salute to Morti’s Czadas.
The woodwind department brought the concert to a close with two super items, the first being a cultured and well-characterised performance by Emilia de B (L6), the second being a fabulous trio of top music scholars: Grace P (U6), Emily C (L6) and Emily A (U6) performing Haydn’s London Trio No. 1 with consummate precision and admirable chamber music awareness throughout.
Thanks, as always, to Miss Toomer for her dedicated accompanying, and congratulations to all for a fine display here.
Philip Dukes
Artistic Director
