East Neuk Festival

Doric, Pavel Haas, Opus 13, Belfiato Wind Quintet, Hisako Kawamura, Renaud Garcia Fons, Esther Swift, Julian Bliss

Headliners include three acclaimed string quartets - the Doric, Pavel Haas (making their UK debut), and the remarkable young Scandinavians Opus 13; the Belfiato Wind Quintet; pianists Hisako Kawamura and Boris GiItburg; legendary bassist Renaud Garcia Fons with his alternative ‘string quartet’ featuring Qanun player Serkan Halili, flamenco guitarist Kiko Ruiz, and kemenche player Derya Turkan; three harpists, Catrin Finch, Esther Swift and Margret Köll; Irish fiddler extraordinaire Aoife Ni Bhriain; recorder virtuoso Stefan Temmingh; and clarinettist Julian Bliss solo and with his Septet.

ENF does not ‘do’ themes, but some invariably emerge each year and these are some key ideas that weave their way around the music this year:

MEETINGS OF GREAT COMPOSERS: the friendships, rivalries and animosities between some of the most famous names in music history are brought together in a series of special programmes, most notably the love-hate relationship between Tchaikovsky and Brahms and the lifelong friendship of Reicha and Beethoven.

?EŠTÍ HUDEBNÍCI! Czech musicians – this year, the festival is pleased to welcome two wonderful ensembles: Pavel Haas Quartet which was recently counted among the 10 greatest quartets of all time in Gramophone Magazine; and the Belfiato Wind Quintet which is a highly acclaimed young ensemble making its debut this year. Between them they will play music by five generations of Czech masters including Haas, Janá?ek, Suk, Reicha and Smetana.

MY COUNTRY’S MUSIC: The Czech ensembles will play the music of their homeland, but audiences will also have the opportunity to hear from Japan, Hisako Kawamura playing Akio Yashiro’s colourful Sonata for Piano; from Scandinavia, Opus 13 playing music by Andrea Tarrodi and Grieg. From Scotland, Ian Watt includes John McLeod on his Mediterranean journey; from Russia, Boris Giltburg plays Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky; plus Renaud Garcia Fons brings a host of collaborators from around the Mediterranean, each performing on traditional instruments; and Catrin Finch and Aoife Ni Bhriain draw on the traditions of Wales and Ireland in their new collaboration.

HARPS: This festival we welcome three thrilling harp players: Margret Köll (Germany) who is a superb exponent of early harps and plays a baroque triple harp; Catrin Finch (Wales) who plays in duo with Aoife Ni Bhriain; while Scot, Esther Swift is the creator of 2024’s Big Project, ZULU.

ZULU: ENF is delighted to collaborate with the Scottish Fisheries Museum to celebrate and explore the history of the Zulu fishing boats that were once ubiquitous on Scotland’s coasts. Harpist/composer Esther Swift will create a new piece for community and professional musicians which will be premiered in the Museum’s dramatic gallery which holds what remains of the largest surviving Zulu boat.

Disabled Facilities: Accessible venues and toilets