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Our 31st Anniversary

Our first Chamber Music Holiday was in April 1982 in Chelsea College, London. A group of amateur musicians and a few listeners from seven countries came together to play chamber music and enjoy some of the many attractions of this great city especially the concerts and theatre. Gradually Vienna, Budapest, Esterhaza, Corfu, Israel, Paris, Normandy, Tuscany, Prague, Ireland, Asolo near Venice and Florence, then Thailand, Dubrovnik and Sydney were added. The Caribbean Cruise Beethoven on Board organised by the Lindsay Quartet and Chamber Music Holidays and Festivals was an outstanding success with performances of all the Beethoven Quartets and the Quintet.

So many fantastic memories of friends from all over the world. Wonderful experiences – the New Year parties in Paris, Normandy, Vienna and Prague, the Haydn Bicentenary in Eszterhaza, the concerts in stunning private villas in Corfu, cruising on the Danube from Budapest, our superb apartment hotel on spectacular Sydney harbour and a great variety of varied experiences in Thailand. The week cruising in the Caribbean with the Lindsay Quartet was really fantastic. All these wonderful places with such enjoyable chamber music playing, lots of interesting coaching and wonderful concerts.

The organiser Vivienne Pittendrigh has been a member of ACMP since her student days in Sydney Conservatorium. She now lives several months of the year on the Greek island of Corfu while retaining an office in England. Having lived and worked in various parts of the world including Sydney, Melbourne, London, Bournemouth, Vienna, Prague, Corfu and Budapest she has an extensive background knowledge of these places as well as many wonderful friends - especially in the music world.

In 1990 festivals developed - the first in Tuscany which we organised along with John Terry and Sasha Brussilovsky then twenty nine Divertimenti in Corfu Festivals organised by Vivienne who brought the Lindsays, the Kocian, Nostitz, Herold and Stamic Quartets, the Kinsky Trio also George Sopkin, Roger Low, Igor Polesitsky and others to this beautiful island.

In the early and mid 1990s we had wonderful Festivals in Eszterhaza in Hungary first with Alexander Brussilovsky, George Sopkin and friends, then with the Lindsays, the Kocian Quartet with Michal Kanka, and the Aron Quartet. In 2009 we celebrated the Haydn bi-centenary while staying in Eszterhaza over the actual date, amazing concerts and an incredible atmosphere.

This year (2012) we had excellent coaching with the Martinu Quartet on the Rhine. In August we were in Vienna for the outstanding Aron Quartet Chamber Music Festival in the magnificent Schloss Laudon followed by wonderful coaching sessions with the Quartet. Our hotel in the centre of the Old Town was a perfect location for visiting some many great places of musical interest.

Now we look forward to the future. In March we shall be in Istanbul, one of the most splendid, interesting and historic cities in the world. Then to Budapest from 29 May to 7 June with the wonderful Martinu Quartet coaching, also concerts and opera, stunning sightseeing and a very sociable nine days. Vienna again in August for the superb Aron Quartet Chamber Music Festival and lots more. Finally back to Corfu with the Martinu Quartet coaching 20 hours and giving concerts on this beautiful island. We have an optional fascinating three days on the Greek mainland and Butrint just over the border in Albania.

So many wonderful memories of thirty years and interesting and exciting plans for the future.



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