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On the spectacular and dramatic north coast of Mallorca, far from the mass tourism of the south-east, is the pretty village of Estellencs in the dramatic Tramuntana Mountains. Mallorca has long been associated with Frederic Chopin who stayed on the island with his lover George Sand during the winter of 1838/39. The couple stayed at the Carthusian monastery at Valldemossa, scandalising the locals in this remote rural outpost, although Chopin composed some of his finest music whilst on the island. Pianist Melvyn Tan will play works by Chopin, and we are also joined by the Alkyona Quartet and the classical guitarist Morgan Szymanski, who will give a series of private concerts in the village church.
One day is spent visiting the port of Sóller, on the famous Ferrocarril de Sóller railway, which crosses the mountains linking Palma with the sea. In Valldemossa we visit the monastery where Chopin stayed, and we also visit Deia, a village made famous by the poet and writer Robert Graves, after which we continue to Son Marroig, once the residence of the Hapsburg Archduke Ludwig Salvator. You can also use the local bus service to Palma or explore the various walking routes which start in the village.
Our base is the comfortable 4* Hotel Maristel in the centre of the small village of Estellencs. Bedrooms are simply furnished and are all air conditioned. The hotel has a restaurant and an extensive terrace where meals are served and there is an outdoor swimming pool and a small indoor pool. There are spectacular views across the village out to sea, and you can walk down to the small beach at Cala Estellencs. The village is a maze of picturesque cobbled streets with a couple of small bars and cafés.
...when you travel with Kirker
Flights with EasyJet:
Depart Gatwick 11:55, arrive Palma 15:20
Depart Palma 12:00, arrive Gatwick 13:30
NB. Palma is served by many airports around the country so please tell us if you would like to fly from your local airport. You can also fly with British Airways from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City. Please ask us for details.
Emma Purslow & Marike Kruup, violins, Claire Newton, viola, Jobine Siekman, cello. An award-winning quartet and the the Royal College of Music String Quartet Fellows 2022/23. They have performed in many leading UK venues including the Royal Albert Hall, as well as at many music societies both at home and abroad.
barry.cheeseman@kirkerholidays.com
Barry Cheeseman has been the Manager of the Kirker Cultural Tours & Music Holidays programme for over 10 years.
Barry has been an opera lover for more than 40 years and has seen and heard every major singer during this period. He loves the challenges of organising complex arts events and working closely with the musicians. Out of the office, Barry manages to fit in time to organise his own Chamber Music Festival in North Norfolk where he lives
Melvyn Tan was born in Singapore. and came to England at a young age to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal College of Music. He has appeared as a soloist with every leading orchestra, throughout Europe and the USA. The works of Chopin have always been central to his repertoire.
Morgan Szymanski, classical guitar, was born in Mexico City and studied with Carlos Bonnell and Gary Ryan at the Royal College of Music.
He became the first solo guitarist to be selected by YCAT (Young Concert Artists Trust) and was the first guitarist to be awarded Junior Fellowship at the RCM, where he completed his Masters. Renowned for his exquisitely lyrical playing, Morgan divides his life equally between Mexico and London, travelling far and wide for his busy concert schedule.
"Performer, editor, composer and teacher, Simon Rowland-Jones has always led a very busy, all-embracing musical life. He was founder violist of the Chilingirian Quartet, in which he played for a total of ten years, and subsequently performed with many other leading chamber groups.
His solo CDs, on the Meridian and Etcetera labels, include the first-ever complete version of the Bach Cello Suites on viola. Peters Edition published his viola transcription of the suites shortly after the recording was made and he then went on to make a new critical/performing edition of the Haydn String Quartets. His many works include pieces for viola, four string quartets, a string trio, a piano quartet, songs and ‘A Turn Outside’, a musical adaptation of a play by Stevie Smith commissioned by Dame Josephine Barstow. He teaches viola and chamber music at the Royal College of Music and is co-director of the North Norfolk Music Festival."
25 September
Alkyona Quartet
Haydn: String Quartet in C Op.20 No.2
Britten: String Quartet No,1
Beethoven: String Quartet in D Op.18 No.3
26 September
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola, Morgan Szymanski, guitar
The programme will include works by composers from Spain, Italy, Argentina and Mexico, along with the first movement from Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in A minor D 821 arranged for guitar and viola.
We will include a performance of Banyalbufar for viola and guitar, composed by Simon Rowland-Jones and first performed in the church in Banyalbufar, the next village along the coast from Estellencs.
27 September
Melvyn Tan, piano
Works by Beethoven, Granados, Albeniz and Chopin.
28 September
Alkyona Quartet, Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Turin: The Bullfighter’s Prayer
Beethoven String Quartet in F, Op.18 No.1
Shostakovich: String Quartet No.7
Mozart: String Quintet in C minor, K40
29 September
Alkyona Quartet, Simon Rowland-Jones, viola, Morgan Szymanski, guitar, Melvyn Tan, piano, Barry Cheeseman, narrator
Vivaldi: Guitar. concerto in D for guitar and string trio
Simone Iannarelli: The Last Coffee Together for guitar and string quartet.
Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midummer Night’s Dream for string quartet
Alan Ridout: Ferdinand the Bull for viola and narrator (1974)
Alan Ridout set Munro Leaf ’s 1935 story about Ferdinand, an unusual and high-minded bull who preferred sitting in the shade and smelling the flowers to charging around the dusty bullrings of Spain. Walt Disney made a successful film about Ferdinand in 1938. Chopin: Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor Op.21
Quartet
Emma Purslow & Marike Kruup, violins, Claire Newton, viola, Jobine Siekman, cello. An award-winning quartet and the the Royal College of Music String Quartet Fellows 2022/23. They have performed in many leading UK venues including the Royal Albert Hall, as well as at many music societies both at home and abroad.
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