Bath Mozartfest to return this November

Misty mornings, falling leaves and rapidly dwindling days are a sure sign that Bath Mozartfest is just around the corner. This year will be the 34th annual autumnal celebration of classical music performed by outstanding international musicians.

The works of W A Mozart form its core although Amelia Freedman, the festival’s artistic director who is acclaimed for her thoughtful and intelligent programming, allows it to venture boldly beyond, this year from Palestrina to Falla and Ravel via Louise Farrenc.

The Pavel Haas Quartet will open the festival with, of course, Mozart, here one of three late works known as the Prussian Quartets. As ever, chamber music is central: the renowned Takács Quartet needs no introduction; the Nash Ensemble will perform works by Britten and Beethoven alongside Mozart’s consummate Clarinet Quintet; and the Modigliani String Quartet will make its Bath debut with a fascinating programme finishing with one of Beethoven’s masterly Op 59 quartets – No 2 in E minor Razumovsky; London Mozart Players will perform an all-Mozart programme, which is part of pianist Angela Hewitt’s mammoth Mozart Odyssey presenting the composer’s concerti. 

Image: Pavel Haas Quartet, credit Petra Hajska 

Another stand-out concert will be that given by Sir Andràs Schiff, who will announce his programme from the stage on the night, although it is guaranteed to feature Mozart’s music.  

Image: Sir Andràs Schiff, credit Nadja Sjoestroem

Mezzo-soprano, Sarah Connolly, will join forces with pianist Imogen Cooper to present a programme of songs from Schumann, Schubert, Duparc and Loewe and concluding with Mozart’s heart-wrenching Abendempfindung.

Image: Sarah Connolly, credit Andrew Crowley

The Tallis Scholars will transport their audience to the Sistine Chapel with a programme of glorious Renaissance music, featuring lesser known works jealously guarded by Popes of the day.  And Bath Mozartfest will draw to a close with The Sixteen choir and orchestra  n Bath Abbey, conducted by Harry Christophers, opening with Mozart’s sublime Ave Verum Corpus before Haydn’s mighty Nelson Mass.

Image: Tallis Scholars, credit Hugo Glendinning

With two full-length Saturday morning ‘coffee concerts’ and one-hour weekday lunchtime concerts, Bath Mozartfest presents fifteen concerts across nine days, promising the finest classical music in period venues set against the backdrop of one of the UK’s most attractive and hospitable cities.