Classical Preview: Chamber music heads for the countryside

It is one of classical music’s huge success stories, all but one of last year’s events sold out as the young group of internationally famous performers take music into the depths of the windswept countryside. Such is the attraction that Classical Brit award winner, violinist Jack Liebeck, is cutting short his planned visit to Australia to be back in time to share in the two weeks of intensive rehearsal and performance.

“One of the attractions,” comments artistic director, Jamie Walton, “is to take time away from the large venues, and to play chamber music we would otherwise never have the chance of performing.”

In venue size the nine concerts take the festival to the expansive space of St Nicholas in Guisborough (Aug 20) to the small historic church in Lastingham (Aug 22), and this year has added the beauty of St Stephen’s at Fylingdales (Aug 26).

To the now familiar faces of pianist Daniel Grimwood, cellist, Guy Johnston, and violinist, Victoria Sayles, comes the addition of London Symphony’s principal cellist, Rebecca Gilliver, and Danish recorder virtuoso, Pernille Petersen. The festival’s theme, Paths to Russia, features the familiar Tchaikovsky, the tormented world of Shostakovich and such temptations as the seldom heard Septet by Glinka (Aug 26).

These concerts do sell out, as the man who last year found himself seated in the pulpit will confirm. The festival runs from Aug 15-27. 01751 417795.