9.49°C This year’s Roman River Festival runs across three weekends from 17 September to 2 October 2015, bringing an eclectic mix of classical, jazz and contemporary music to venues across Colchester and beyond.
Highlights include songwriter and guitarist Will McNicoll performing in a disused Victorian meeting hall behind Colchester High Street, and jazz pianist and vocalist Joe Stilgoe appearing at Liquid nightclub. As ever, the programme blends emerging classical talent with established international artists, presenting both new commissions and much-loved repertoire.
At Firstsite, the Festival will showcase a new series of canvases by sculptor and artist John Doubleday. In front of these works, there will be the world premiere of a new piece by Gwilym Simcock on Friday, 25 September.
Musician-in-residence Elena Urioste travels from Philadelphia especially for the Festival. She will perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in the event’s first full orchestral concert, as well as Shostakovich and Schnittke piano quintets by candlelight at St Martin’s Church in the Dutch Quarter. She also performs Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending on Sunday, 4 October.
Festival organiser Orlando Jopling shared his personal highlights: Handel’s uplifting Messiah on Saturday 26 September at St Peter’s Church, and the afternoon concert at Stoke by Nayland Church on Sunday 4 October, where Elena Urioste will perform The Lark Ascending.
Full programme details can be found on the Roman River Festival website. Events will also feature in Keep Colchester Cool’s daily listings updates.
