Chamber Music Scotland

Music at Paxton Festival – 16-25 July 2010

It is five years since Music at Paxton was established and in that time the music festival has built a strong reputation for bringing high quality chamber music from around the world to the Scottish Borders.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s festival which runs from 16 to 25 July in the fine setting of Paxton House, an 18th century Palladian mansion in the Scottish Borders near Berwick-upon-Tweed.

As always there are new and exciting artists at this summer’s festival along with more familiar names from previous years. Supported by the Scottish Arts Council, those performing will include violinist Alina Ibragimova, pianist Cédric Tiberghien, cellist Ursula Smith with pianist Jordi Bitlloch, and the dynamic piano duo Philip Moore and Simon Crawford-Phillips. The Doric Quartet will be playing as well as the Gould Piano Trio, the Hebrides Ensemble and the Edinburgh Quartet.

Concerts will take place every evening in the Picture Gallery which houses paintings from the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. There will also be afternoon events such as a song recital by tenor Jamie MacDougall and solo Bach performed by American cellist Bartholomew Lafolette. The Viriditas Opera company from the University of York, will present music theatre based on the tale of Don Quixote, outdoors on the steps of Paxton House, with the audience seated on the lawn.

As well as the uniquely beautiful surroundings of Paxton House, the festival offers pre-concert suppers to whet the appetite before the musical feast begins. Picnicking is also encouraged.

For further information on the festival and information on how to book tickets, go to http://www.musicatpaxton.co.uk/.