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Described by the 11th Duke of Devonshire as ‘the jewel in Eastbourne’s splendid crown’, The Grand enjoys a majestic position in this elegant seaside resort, which was developed by the Cavendish family in the late 19th century and is the perfect home for our new exclusive music festival. It is a benchmark of comfort and style from that romantic period, more reminiscent of the grand hotels of the capitals of central Europe than of the English coast. Music has always been a central feature of life at The Grand: Debussy, Elgar, Dame Nellie Melba and many others stayed at the hotel.
A certain M. et Mme. Claude Debussy checked into the Grand Hotel on 24 July 1905 but in truth the guests were M. Debussy and his mistress, Emma Bardac, not his wife. Emma was an accomplished singer and married to a rich financier. They had left Paris to avoid the final judgement in Debussy’s divorce from the real Mme. Debussy. News of the divorce settlement, which went against the composer, together with acerbic observations from the judge, came through to them on 2 August. The couple stayed on in Eastbourne until 30 August. Debussy corrected the score of his masterpiece, La mer, while at the Grand – a perfect location for such work. His stay in Eastbourne played no part in the history of La mer but while in Eastbourne he did compose ‘Reflets dans l’eau’, part of his Images pour piano.
The 5 star Grand overlooks the English Channel, a short walk from the centre of Eastbourne and from Devonshire Park and the Towner Art Gallery. It has spacious public lounges, restaurants and bars, and an impressive spa with indoor pool, gym, solarium and treatment rooms. Free use of the spa’s facilities is included. Our concerts will be held in the Compton Room. Bedrooms are comfortable and well appointed. You can choose between an inland facing room or a room with a sea view.
...when you travel with Kirker
"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 Marmen Quartet are the current holders of the Music in the Round Bridge Scheme, a project initiated by the late Peter Cropper.
They enjoyed a two week residency at Aldeburgh in 2016 and are Associate Ensemble at the Birmingham Conservatoire. They took part in the prestigious Osaka Chamber Music Competition in the spring of 2017.
Alexander Ullman shot to international recognition after winning First Prize at the 2011 Franz Liszt Competition in Budapest. He studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and later at the Royal College of Music where his teacher was Dmitri Alexeev.
His highlights in 2017 include a two week tour to China, his debut at the North Norfolk Music Festival and the Liszt International Piano Competition in Utrecht.
21 April
Alexander Ullman, piano
Tchaikovsky arr. Mikail Pletnev :The Nutcracker Suite
Liszt: En reve S207
Schlafos! Frage und Antwort 203
Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude S173/3
Csardsas S221
Mephisto Waltz No.2 S515
Stravinsky arr Guido Arosto: The Firebird Suite
22 April
The Marmen String Quartet
Carole Presland, piano
Haydn: String Quartet in F Op.50 No.5
Janacek: String Quartet No.1 ‘Kreutzer Sonata’
Debussy: L’isle joyeuse
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major Op.44
23 April
A talk by Katy Hamilton
The Marmen String Quartet
Mozart: String Quartet in G K387
Debussy: String Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartet in A minor Op.132
Viola, Composer & Kirker Music Director
"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."
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