Wandsworth Council is proud to host the Bandstand Chamber Festival, founded by clarinettist and concert promoter Anthony Friend, with a series of free, outdoor chamber music concerts.
Four of the UK’s best-loved string quartets will take to the stage to perform some of the greatest pieces of classical music, live in Battersea Park.
Battersea Park’s beautiful Victorian bandstand will be turned into a stage for the four evening performances, which all start at 6.30pm.
The performances are part of the Love Parks Wandsworth campaign, which encourages residents to enjoy their local parks and outdoor spaces.
Councillor Steffi Sutters, the council’s cabinet member for Community Services and Open Spaces said: “Over the past few years, the council has invested thousands of pounds in our parks.
“Now, more than ever, we want to encourage our residents to get out and enjoy the fabulous green spaces, right on their doorstep.
“We’re delighted that the organisers were able to secure such high calibre quartets in a matter of weeks, as lockdown measures were eased.
“These free events are a wonderful opportunity to see Battersea park at its best, giving residents an opportunity to enjoy an evening of classical music, whilst taking in the beautiful surroundings.”
Anthony Friend, Founder and Artistic Director of the Bandstand Chamber Festival, said: “I am delighted to have been able to create the Bandstand Chamber Festival as an opportunity for audiences to hear great chamber music live once again, and for free.
“These extraordinary musicians have been without live audiences for months due to Covid-19. The Bandstand Chamber Festival will be one of their first opportunities to play a live concert since March.
“This has been made possible thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a few individuals, the support of Wandsworth Council, and the belief we all share in the value of live music.”
To ensure social distancing, entry is with a pre-booked ticket only. Regular sanitisation will be in place, with multiple sanitisation stations to ensure everyone’s safety.
The organisers will keep ticket holders’ information for 21 days to aid with track and trace.
Programme
Tuesday 1 September
Doric Quartet play Mozart and Mendelssohn
Mozart, Quartet in B-flat, K. 589
Mendelssohn, Quartet in F minor, Op. 80
Friday 4 September
Maggini Quartet play Beethoven and Dvořák
Beethoven, Quartet in G, Op. 18, No. 2
Dvořák, Quartet in F, Op. 96, ‘American’
Thursday 10 September
Solem Quartet & Anthony Friend, clarinet, play Haydn and Brahms
Haydn, Quartet in E-flat, Op, 76, No. 6
Brahms, Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Tuesday 15 September
Hill Quartet play Haydn and Ravel
Haydn, Quartet in E-flat, Op. 64, No. 6
Ravel, String Quartet in F
Instagram:
@bandstandchamberfestival
@LoveParksWandsworth
Facebook:
facebook.com/bandstandchamberfestival
facebook.com/LoveParksWandsworth/