Page 57 - BBC Music (January 2020)

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Where to experience world-class musical performances in 2020
Have passport, will travel
In a seasonal slump? Look ahead to
lighter days and musical nights as we
round up our top picks of places to visit
in 2020.
Whether it’s a chamber music festival
by the beach or an operatic soirée in
the city, there’s a cultural holiday to
suit all tastes. From weekend breaks to
long-haul adventures, musical-based
excursions are on the rise. And while
there are plenty of options to immerse
yourself in, say, a week-long festival,
it’s just as acceptable to dip in and out
of a series, allowing you to explore the
tourist trail more fully. (We admit that
occasionally there might be things
besides music.) Here are our upcoming
highlights.
Sofia, Bulgaria
With its Black Sea beaches, rolling
mountains and ancient monasteries,
Bulgaria offers the visitor a perfect blend
of nature, history and art. The capital
city of Sofia is home to the Bulgaria Hall,
which regularly hosts internationally
renowned musicians such as Sharon
Kam. The clarinettist will perform
Weber’s concerto alongside the Sofia
Philharmonic Orchestra (13 February).
The orchestra is later joined by the
Musical
Travels
2020
National Philharmonic Choir and the
Mixed Choir of the Bulgarian National
Radio for a not-to-be-missed performance
of Penderecki’s Seventh (11 June), in
the presence of the legendary Polish
composer-conductor himself.
Baden-Baden, Germany
The spa town of Baden-Baden, nestled
in Germany’s Black Forest, is beloved
for both its scenery and its music.
This year, the annual Easter Festival
(4–13 April) features the excellent
Berlin Philharmonic under the baton
of Kirill Petrenko. As you might expect,
Beethoven’s 250th anniversary looms
large in the programme, with two of
his masterpieces as standout events:
Fidelio (a new production) and the
Missa Solemnis. Petrenko also conducts
Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, while the Third
falls to Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Expect
world-class concerts in a glorious setting.
Townsville, Australia
North Queensland’s Townsville is
blessed with practically year-round
cloudless skies, making it the perfect
retreat for sun-seeking music fans. The
city’s annual ten-day chamber music
festival (31 July – 8 August) celebrates
its 30th anniversary in 2020, and there
MUSICAL TRAVELS 2020
are some extra-special events to mark
the occasion, including premieres of
works by Roderick Williams. Artistic
director Kathryn Stott has curated this
year’s programme around the theme
of ‘Carnival’, which she describes as the
‘most joyous potpourri encompassing
the most celebrated chamber music
repertoire ever written’. In addition to
the concerts on the mainland, there is
also a trip to a neighbouring tropical
island for a one-off recital by didgeridoo
super-star William Barton.
River cruises, Europe
On a cruise, you can enjoy several
locations – while savouring the journey
along the way. To celebrate Beethoven’s
250th anniversary, Luftner Cruises
has arranged the ultimate itinerary,
starting in Amsterdam and taking in
various locations including Cologne
and Strasbourg, ending in Basel. The
experience includes onboard concerts, a
visit to Beethoven’s house in Bonn and
introductory talks by Antonella Placheta.
An alternative route begins and ends
in Passau, taking in the beautiful Duna
Palace in Budapest and the Brahms Hall
in Vienna, and accompanied by on-board
music expert Humphrey Burton.