Music at Paxton welcomes new associate ensemble

Music at Paxton has announced the programme for its upcoming 2023 festival. From 21 to 30 July, Paxton House will welcome a nine-day festival of performances and masterclasses from established and emerging artists as well as focuses on song, folk and choral music.

Music at Paxton’s new associate ensemble, Consone Quartet, will make their festival debut as part of a three-year residency programme. The Royal College of Music graduates and BBC New Generation Artists will present two programmes. On 29 July they will perform a programme of Haydn and Mendelssohn before presenting an exciting programme including Sibelius and Puccini, Mozart and Mendelssohn the following day.

Consone Quartet said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have been appointed as the Associate Ensemble for Music at Paxton. We can’t wait to make music in this incredibly special and historic place, and to meet and connect with the festival’s audience. It is inspiring to be given so much artistic freedom and we are excited to share programmes over the coming years, featuring rarely-heard music as well as some familiar favourites!’

The festival kicks off on 21 July with a performance by Wigmore Hall International String Quartet competition prize-winners Piatti Quartet before Scottish Borders-based Andante Chamber Choir, present a programme of a cappella choral music ranging from Purcell to Billy Joel. Pianist Paul Lewis returns to Paxton on 22 July with a concert of Schubert sonatas. Soprano Rowan Pierce will join forces with a Grammy-award winning pianist and Ryedale Festival artistic director Christopher Glynn for a programme of song spanning Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Poulenc and Noel Coward.

The Katona Twins will perform a programme including works by composers including Handel, Piazzola, Bernstein and Albéniz.

This year’s festival will also see cellist Guy Johnston perform all of Beethoven’s cello sonatas in one evening accompanied by pianist Melvyn Tan, who will also perform Beethoven’s final three piano sonatas on 26 July. Tan will give a masterclass on the following day, with amateur pianists of any age invited to apply. Guitar duo, the Katona Twins (above) will also visit Paxton while Kathleen Ferrier Award winner and bass William Thomas and pianist Malcolm Martineau bring a programme of romantic songs to this year’s Music at Paxton. The festival will close with a performance from violin and piano duo, Chlöe Hanslip and Danny Driver.

Tickets for Music at Paxton will be available online to the public from 17 April.