May 2009

Prague Spring Festival - 14 to 26 May
The Festival is soon and has many wonderful concerts, interesting coaching sessions and a Mozart opera at the famous Estates Theatre.

Haydn Bicentenary Festival, Esterhazy Palace and Vienna - 27 May to 8 June
This promises to be a really memorable twelve days. Many old friends returning and some new people to meet, a great mix of nine nationalities and a perfect mix of instruments. More news about these two Holidays in the next Newsletter. 

Prague Summer Festival - 15 to 23 August
Wonderful concerts, some in the garden of Villa Bertramka with the musicians playing on the terrace with a special roof with good accoustics. Extensive sightseeing with our very popular guides, wonderful museums, gourmet meals and as always the friendly hotel staff make our stay relaxing and enjoyable. Coaching is by members of the leading Czech Quartets and people find playing with these wonderful musicians who often join the groups during the coaching sessions is a memorable experience. 

Vienna and Eszterhaza - 25 August to 4 September 
The Haydn in Eszterhaza Festival was confirmed only recently, as up to then funding had been in doubt. I am delighted to be able to offer this second event as the first Holiday there was booked up so quickly and many people were disappointed. I suggest you make reservations as early as possible. Staying in this wonderful Palace is a special experience and we have concerts and lots of chamber music playing.  Vienna in August is wonderful, so much to see and do as usual and superb gardens to visit and spend time relaxing. 

Corfu - 22 September to 6 October
There has been a big response for this Holiday. I visited our beautiful hotel a couple of days ago and managed to obtain a few more rooms as we were almost booked out. It would be wise to sign up as soon as possible. Unfortunately we cannot take any more pianists or cellists. Our lovely new boutique hotel in a stunning situation and the two day excursion to Albania are proving most attractive. Concerts with the outstanding Herold String Quartet in spectacular locations including a Winery, an historic Venetian mansion, an exclusive Country Club, an 18th Century Venetian estate with a concert hall in a converted olive press and a concert in a charming square in the Old Town of Corfu - now a World Heritage site. We are  finalizing plans for a concert in a monastery in mainland Greece – opposite Corfu – in conjunction with the Bicentenary celebration of Byron’s stay there. There are a limited number of places - especially for single rooms - so it is essential to book as soon as possible.  

Williamsburg VA. USA - 17 to 26 October
I recently visited Williamsburg, staying with Alice and Tom Lindsay who have been so helpful with the setting up of this Chamber Music Holiday. I was there many years ago and Colonial Williamsburg is even better than I remember. We tried various restaurants which will be included in the programme and visited the hotel which seems ideal for us. I also visited New York and at a most enjoyable party I met friends who have been on the Chamber Music Holidays and several who are coming to Corfu this year. 

October is a superb time to be in this wonderful area. This promises to be a very full nine days with lots of concerts, playing, sightseeing, wonderful gourmet meals some in historic places and a stimulating and sociable time with people from all over the world. Chamber music playing every day with coaching will be by the Aron Quartet from Vienna who will also be playing in concerts in this area and Charles Castleman from the USA. There has been a lot of interest and many bookings already. Colonial Williamsburg with its character interpreters, museums, and period ambience will take up much of our free time. We have an ideal hotel for chamber music and meals will be a highlight at wonderful restaurants, some in historic Taverns.  There is a possibility for people to come for the last weekend – from 23rd to 26th. Listeners will find plenty to do – enjoying the music also concerts, sightseeing, gourmet meals and for your friends and family members who are golfers, there are some of the world's great courses. One of the highlights will be a special party in Tom and Alice Lindsay's  home - dinner then lots of chamber music, real southern hospitality! 

News of our Musical Family will be in the next Newsletter in June. Once again thank you all for your interest and support and please forward this Newsletter to friends who may be interested. Do continue to send me contacts with people who may be interested in joining us. Thank you to everyone who has sent me their change of e-mail address, this is most helpful. I hope to see you later this year.  If you have written an e-mail to me which has not been answered please resend it as I am still finding important emails and application forms in junk or spam filters. 

All best wishes for a wonderful summer full of lots of music.
Vivienne E. Pittendrigh

Previous Newsletters

February 2009
December 2008
October 2008