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Over the past twelve years we have presented a series of high-level concerts on the beautiful island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples with some of the world’s most distinguished chamber musicians, pianists and singers.
All six concerts are private and arranged exclusively for our clients and they are held in the concert hall at La Mortella, next to the study where Sir William Walton composed. The hall is reached via the glorious garden at La Mortella which was created by Lady Walton over many years and is now universally recognised as one of the world’s great gardens. The autumn is a wonderful time to visit Ischia.
We stay at the 5 star Albergo San Montano where the manager and his staff have been giving a warm welcome to Kirker clients every autumn for more than a decade. The hotel enjoys a stunning hilltop location with panoramic views around the Bay of Naples. It is just a few minutes’ drive from the pretty village of Laco Ameno; a mini-bus shuttle operates on request throughout the day. The hotel has several pools, one thermal, a spa, terraces, a bar and restaurant. We include a guided tour of the garden at La Mortella and a halfday sightseeing tour of Ischia. There are two optional tours; one to Herculaneum and the Villa Oplontis, and one to Naples where we see two paintings by Caravaggio, visit the Cathedral of San Gennaro and take a tour of the Teatro San Carlo.
Watch a video of one of our previous Kirker Ischia Music Festivals.
...when you travel with Kirker
Flights with British Airways:
Depart from London Gatwick at 13.00, arrive Naples at 16.40
Depart from Naples at 17.30, arrive London Gatwick at 19.25
There are direct flights from Manchester, Birmingham and Stansted to Naples, plus several options from regional airports - please call us for a full list.
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
Kaleidoscope is an ever-changing group of musicians and friends who perform together. It was created by the pianist Tom Poster and for this Festival he has brought together six more musicians from across the musical spectrum.
Soprano Raphaela Papadakis made her debut at Garsington Opera In 2014. Her singing was described by Hilary Finch in The Times as “a lustrous delight.”
Tom Poster, piano, is one of the best-known chamber musicians. He won a Double First in music at King’s College, Cambridge.
Elena Urioste, violin, studied at the Curtis Institute Philadelphia and later at the Juilliard School. She was a BBC New Generation Artist and made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2004.
Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola, studied at the Royal Academy of Music and was a founder member of the Harlem String Quartet.
Bjorg Lewis, cello, is a member of the Vertavo Quartet andtogether with her husband, the pianist Paul Lewis, directs theMidsummer Music Festival in Buckinghamshire.
The composer and clarinettist Mark Simpson is Composer in Residence with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sasha Calin, oboe, studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was made an Associate in 2016.
13 October
Schubert: Adagio and Rondo Concertante D 487; Impromptu in G flat major D 899; The Shepherd on the Rock D965;
Messaien: Quartet for the End of Time
14 October
Schumann: Märchenerzählungen Op.132
A selection of songs
Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A minor Op.114
Clara Schumann: Romance No. 1 Op.22
György Kurtág: Hommage à Robert Schumann Op.15d
15 October
Vaughan Williams: Two English Folksongs for voice and violin; How Cold the Wind doth Blow
Britten: A selection of folksong arrangements
Poulenc: Fiançailles pour rire, for voice and piano
Fauré: Piano Quartet No. 2 in G minor
16 October
A Musical Soirée: An uplifting selection of intimate works in which all the musicians will take part. It will include works by Beethoven, Schumann, Hahn, Kreisler, Gershwin, Fauré and Saint-Saëns
17 October
Debussy: Cello Sonata; Ariettes Oubliées
Poulenc: Oboe Sonata
Walton: A Song for the Lord Mayor’s Table - a selection from the song cycle; Piano Quartet in D minor
18 October
Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F major K370
Brahms: Two Songs with viola
Dvořák: Piano Quartet No 2 in E flat major Op.87
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…
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Cultural Tours Senior Executive
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
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