Classical concerts hit the right note

Archived press release

Date Published: 08/05/08

Robert Secret, Artistic Director

Throughout May and June, residents of Aylesbury Vale will be entertained with the delights of classical music performances through the annual Music in Quiet Places concert series.

Organised by Aylesbury Vale District Council, the series is designed to bring rural communities together and presents an ideal opportunity to enjoy professional concerts with family and friends.

This year’s programme has been put together by artistic director Robert Secret, who is well-known as the conductor of Stowe Opera.

He will be playing the viola at the opening concert of the season at All Saints’ Church in Marsworth on 18 May. The concert will feature the charming quartets for clarinet and strings by Stamitz and Mozart and the wonderfully romantic string trio by Dohnanyi.

St Mary’s Church in Twyford will host a programme which will include quintets by Bach, Boccherini and Pleyel, as well as quartets by Mozart, on 24 May.

On 31 May, members of the Orchestra of Stowe Opera will take to the stage to perform music by Haydn and Mozart at St Mary’s Church in Haddenham. This concert is followed on 7 June by a performance of The Elegiac Trio by Arnold Bax at St James The Great Church in Bierton.

The series ends on 14 June with a performance of arias by Handel at St Mary’s Church in Lillingstone Lovell, near Buckingham.

All the concerts start at 7.30pm and last approximately 90 minutes. Refreshments will be served at many of the concerts, with proceeds going directly to church funds.

Before each performance there will be a free guided walk led by a local historian. These walks are available to everyone, not just ticket holders, and set off from the concert venue at 6.30pm.

Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “We look forward to another season of high quality classical concerts across the district. Music in Quiet Places is an excellent way of making professional concerts available and easily accessible to everyone living in villages.” 

The concert programme is available to view on the council's website. Tickets are available from the council on 01296 585210.