Bobbing corks & ash clouds: the perils and pleasures of planning the chamber series / Monday 21st October
Have you ever played ‘bobbing corks’? Take a tub of water and drop in some corks. Now try keeping them submerged. No sooner do you think you have succeeded when they ‘bob’ back up.
Arranging a chamber series of 15 concerts and matching musicians’ availability with specific Thursdays in university term time can feel like this. One moment an artist is booked, then something changes: their other tour dates shift, or their accompanist is no longer available, or another date (already allocated to another performer) might suit them better.
Eventually, somehow, the corks are tamed and you have a series of concerts to take to the Kettle’s Yard Music Committee. Now, I have set up plenty of concerts before, for festivals, orchestral series, one-off events and so on. But this is my first time programming the series at Kettle’s Yard with its great history and discerning audiences. So it is a relief to me when the Committee gives it the nod.
I have tried to stay true to what has been established here by retaining a mix of established artists (like the pianist Kathy Stott , and the Kungsbacka Trio ), and inviting artists back with a local connection (such as the tenor James Gilchrist who studied here).
But the aspect of music at Kettle’s Yard I really love is the opportunity to invite artists who are not yet household names but, in my view, really ought to be. There are so many to recommend this year. This term alone, we have the Orbis Trio from the Czech Republic who open the series tonight (17 Oct) with music – such as Dvorak’s ‘Dumky’ trio – that is so evocative of their homeland. The violinist Hyeyoon Park (24 Oct), pianist Francesco Piemontesi (7 Nov), the Escher Quartet (14 Nov) and this year’s resident artists, the Heath Quartet (28 Nov and dates next February and May) have all been hailed as stars to watch.
But I know I can’t settle. From illness to volcanic ash clouds, many things can crop up at the last minute to spoil one’s carefully laid plans.
Those corks may keep on bobbing.
To see the full Chamber Concerts Programme or buy tickets click here .
