Past, present and future

Our  30th Anniversary
Our first Chamber Music Holiday was ln 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.

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 hotel in spectacular Sydney. A great variety of experiences in Thailand. And all with such enjoyable chamber music playing and lots of interesting coaching.

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 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 was where we met Igor Polesitsky and Roger Low who are our coaches in Florence in May 2012 for the seventh time!

The twenty one Divertimenti in Corfu Festivals organised by Vivienne 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 Sasha Brussilovsky, George Sopkin and friends, then with the Lindsays, the Kocian Quartet with Michal Kanka, and the Aron Quartet.

Our most ambitious project was a highly successful cruise in the Caribbean with the world famous English Lindsay Quartet playing the complete Beethoven string quartets - a memorable experience.

In 2007 Vivienne and another Australian Sasha Stepanova an international lawyer working in Prague founded Divertimenti in Prague String Quartet Festival. Based in the Mozart Museum in Bertramka there were six wonderful concerts with some of the top quartets in Prague. Our patron was the highly distinguished violinist and violist Josef Suk who was very involved and supportive, coming to all the concerts and also parties. We were very saddened by his death earlier this year. This Festival finished when Villa Bertranka closed.

So many wonderful memories and lasting friendships. Now we look forward to the future in 2012 with the Rhine then Florence in May followed by Vienna in August.  Do join us to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.