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
For our 2022 Festival 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 Tours
We will be offering an optional visit to the Castello Aragonese, dramatically located on an island linked by a causeway to Ischia Porto, a wine tasting of local Ischitano wines at one of the many vineyards on the island and a boat trip around the island’s pretty coastline.
...when you travel with Kirker
Flights with British Airways:
Depart from London Heathrow at 11.15, arrive Naples at 15.00
Depart from Naples at 15.50, arrive London Heathrow at 17.40
The Scottish pianist and award-winning broadcaster Iain Burnside has worked with the world’s leading singers for more than 40 years. He teaches at the National Opera Studio, the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and with young singers at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
The Balthasar Piano Trio is made up of three leading well know British musicians each with their own important careers. It was formed in 2021 by the pianist Iain Burnside, the violinist Michael Foyle and cellist Tim Hugh.
Soprano Rosa Feola comes from San Nicola la Strada in Caserta and studied at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Martucci in Salerno. Winning the 2010 Placido Domingo World Opera Prize in 2010 launched her career. Since then she has sung major roles in important theatres throughout Europe.
Sergio Vitaleis one of Italy’s leading young baritones. He comes from Caserta and studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome and at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. His teachers included Renata Scotto and Renato Bruson. He has sung in almost every Italian opera house including at the Teatro Regio, Parma where he appeared with Mariella Devia in Roberto Devereux.
Stephan Loges was born in Dresden and was the winner of the first Wigmore Hall Song Competition which led to the start of his international career as a recitalist and soloist.
Ariel Lanyi was born in Jerusalem and studied there before moving to London where he continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music. He took part in the prestigious 2021 Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont and was selected by the Young Classical Artists Trust in New York and London.
"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."
8 October
Trio Balthazar
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
An all-Beethoven programmes
String Trio in C minor Op.9 No.3
Kakadu Variations
Piano Trio Op.70 No.2
9 October
Stephan Loges, baritone
Iain Burnside, piano
A programme of German, Italian and English songs
10 October
Ariel Lanyi, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No. 2 in A major Op.2 No.2
Janacek: On an Overgrown Path Book II
Schumann: Symphonic etudes, Op.13
11 October
Trio Balthazar
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Mozart: A duo for violin and viola
Walton: Violin Sonata
Debussy: Cello Sonata
Ravel: Piano Trio
12 October
Trio Balthazar
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Smetana: Piano Trio
Suk: Elegy
Dvorak: Piano Quartet in E flat
13 October
Rosa Feola, soprano
Sergio Vitale, baritone
Iain Burnside, piano
Rosa and her husband Sergio will present a programme of their favourite arias and duets from Italian opera.
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
Piano
The Scottish pianist and award-winning broadcaster Iain Burnside has worked with the world’s leading singers for more than 40 years. He teaches at the National Opera Studio, the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and with young singers at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
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.
