Bath Mozartfest 2023
The audience at Bath Mozartfest 2023’s closing concert was reluctant to allow Sir Mark Elder to leave the stage, their applause calling him back again and again. This was Sir Mark’s final Bath performance as conductor of the world-famous Hallé orchestra, as he prepares to step down as its Music Director after almost a quarter of a century, and the enthralled concert-goers clearly wanted to show their appreciation and affection for him. It was a wonderful end to nine days of fine music making at the 33rd annual Bath Mozartfest.
We welcomed audiences from home and abroad, opening with Cuarteto Casals from Barcelona (but coming to the Georgian City via a tour of East Asia), encompassing the acclaimed period instrument ensemble La Nuova Musica with soprano Lucy Crowe, a song recital, a celebration of the Virgin Mary from Stile Antico, a piano recital and a piano duo, plus a starry array of chamber trios, quartets and ensembles. The warmth of the musicians’ reception triumphed over the damp and blustery weather beyond the fine acoustic and glittering chandeliers of the handsome period Assembly Rooms.
© Colin Hawkins Photography
Positive reviews abounded, but the Sitkovetsky Trio earned 5 stars and a glowing mention in The Observer and The Guardian for their performance of works by Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven, in particular the latter’s ‘wildly dramatic ‘ Piano Trio in D major Op 70 No 1 “Ghost”.
Another journalist commented that ‘whatever your taste in chamber music this festival will have something of top quality to offer’. We agree, and hope that you will be back next year for more!
The 2024 Bath Mozartfest dates are Friday 8 to Saturday 16 November.