Speak to an expert
020 7593 2288
Open 9 - 6 Mon to Thu, 9 - 5:30 Fri & 9 - 1 Sat
Our annual visit to the beautiful and verdant island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples is a highlight in the Kirker calendar. Each year we travel with a group of distinguished musicians who play in a series of private concerts exclusively for our guests in the music room at La Mortella. Sir William Walton and his wife Susana lived here for many years. Lady Walton created what is today one of the world’s most famous gardens. Today La Mortella is a foundation, expertly managed by Alessandra Vinciguerra and her devoted team who ensure that the Walton’s legacy thrives today.
Hotel
We shall stay at the 4* Hotel Tritone, which is perfectly located on the beach of San Francesco, a few minutes’ walk from the historic centre of Forio and a short drive from La Mortella where the concerts are held. The hotel is surrounded by gardens which run down to the sea, and there are two bars, a restaurant, sun terraces and a swimming pool. Bedrooms are simply, but comfortably furnished, and they all have either a private balcony or terrace.
Forio is the second largest town on Ischia and has a charming old quarter with a good selection of shops, restaurant and bars. The local buses will take you to Ischia Porto, and Forio is served by hydrofoils to Naples. WH Auden and Chester Kallman lived in Forio and were frequent visitors to Maria’s Bar, which remains a popular local institution.
Itinerary
Our tour includes a half day tour of the island, as well as a private guided tour of La Mortella in the company of the gardeners, during which we learn the history of the garden and how it was developed in accordance with Lady Walton’s vision by the celebrated designer, Russell Page.
Optional Excursion
We will be offering an optional visit to to the mainland. On arrival in Naples, we will walk the short distance to the opera house, which was built in 1816, and has a traditional beautifully decorated horseshoe auditorium. After the tour, we will see the first of two works by Caravaggio, “The Martyrdom of St Ursula”, in the Palazzo Zevelos. The second Caravaggio, “The Seven Acts of Mercy”, is displayed in the location for which it was intended – the Pio Monte della Misericordia, a charitable institution founded by Neapolitan noblemen to care for the sick in 1601. A panoramic tour of Naples and lunch in a traditional pizza restaurant overlooking the bay will conclude the day, before we return to Ischia in time for this evening’s concert.
...when you travel with Kirker
Flights with British Airways:
Depart from London Heathrow at 10.10, arrive Naples at 13.55
Depart from Naples at 14.45, arrive London Heathrow at 16.40
The Maxwell String Quartet was internationally recognised after winning First Prize in the 9th Trondheim Chamber Music Competition in 2017. They very soon started to appear in leading chamber music venues throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, with performances in Copenhagen, Stavanger and Amsterdam. The quartet is comprised of players who grew up together and who played both classical music and Scottish folk music across Scotland.
They studied with the Endellion String Quartet and have been mentored by current and former members of the Belcea Quartet, Krysztof Chorzelski and Alasdair Tait. They have a very busy performing schedule planned for the 2018/9 season with performances in Trondheim, throughout Scotland, and nine concerts on a tour of the United States. At the start of 2019, they perform at St. John’s Smith Square and at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge.
"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."
The Musicians
The Maxwell Quartet
Thomas Kelly, piano
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
The singer and their pianist will be announced later
12 October
Haydn: String Quartet in F, Op.77 No.2
Brahms: String Quartet in B flat, Op.67
Scottish folk music arranged by members of the Maxwell Quartet
13 October
Piano recital by Thomas Kelly to include works by Rameau, Chabrier, Liszt, Chopin, Debussy and Scriabin
14 October
Haydn: String Quartet in C, Op.20 No.2
Mozart: String Quintet in C, K515
Walton: Passacaglia for solo cello
This short piece was first played by Rostropovich, for whom it was composed, at the Royal Festival Hall on 16 March 1982, two weeks before William Walton's 80th birthday.
15 October
Song recital – programme to be announced
16 October
Haydn: String Quartet in G, Op.77 No.1
Britten: String Quartet No.2
The concert will also include a selection of songs by William Walton and works for solo piano and a string quartet by Luigi Boccherini.
17 October
Purcell: Fantasias
Bridge: Three Idylls
Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor
Camille Saint-Saens took part in the first performance at the Societe nationale de musique on 17 January 1880.The pianist was also the work’s dedicatee but he was far from impressed and swept off the platform at the end leaving his music behind on the stand. Nevertheless, Franck’s thrilling work is much loved today by audiences and musicians alike!
I hope you enjoy viewing our film documenting the 2013 Kirker Ischia Music Festival. As the person who is fortunate enough to organise and attend them all, I would like to share my own reasons why I think Ischia is such a rewarding week’s holiday. I have just finished leading one of our opera tours to Vienna and instead of flying home to London I travelled onward to Malta to join the Baroque…
View DetailsThe hotel was excellent and cannot be faulted and all the Kirker arrangements were as expected, and again, could not be faulted. It was such a privilege to be in the company of such talented musicians, and to hear them in the surroundings of the lovely garden of La Mortella added to the pleasure. The music was superb - often challenging but always a joy.
View Details
String Quartet
The Maxwell String Quartet was internationally recognised after winning First Prize in the 9th Trondheim Chamber Music Competition in 2017. They very soon started to appear in leading chamber music venues throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, with performances in Copenhagen, Stavanger and Amsterdam. The quartet is comprised of players who grew up together and who played both classical music and Scottish folk music across Scotland.
They studied with the Endellion String Quartet and have been mentored by current and former members of the Belcea Quartet, Krysztof Chorzelski and Alasdair Tait. They have a very busy performing schedule planned for the 2018/9 season with performances in Trondheim, throughout Scotland, and nine concerts on a tour of the United States. At the start of 2019, they perform at St. John’s Smith Square and at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge.
The hotel was excellent and cannot be faulted and all the Kirker arrangements were as expected, and again, could not be faulted. It was such a privilege to be in the company of such talented musicians, and to hear them in the surroundings of the lovely garden of La Mortella added to the pleasure. The music was superb - often challenging but always a joy.
Our expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.
