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The Kirker Music Festival at The Star, Alfriston

England 3 nights Price from £1,565 per person
Departs: 07 Nov 2023, 11 Nov 2024
Departs: 07 Nov 2023

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We are looking forward to returning to Alex Polizzi’s hotel in the picturesque and historic village of Alfriston for our second Kirker Music Festival. Our musicians are the well-established, award-winning Sacconi Quartet, equally at home playing with major orchestras and joining colleagues in chamber music concerts. The third and most recent addition to the Polizzi Collection of hotels, The Star is a superbly-managed and welcoming hotel with elegant accommodation and delicious cuisine.

Music is at the core of our stay at The Star, with three concerts in the Old Chapel just across the road and two talks in the lovely Pilgrim’s Room in the hotel. There will also be time to explore the stunning Sussex coastline and the South Downs, with maps for Alex Polizzi’s favourite walks available at the hotel. Duncan Grant’s murals at Berwick Church and the Towner Gallery at Eastbourne with its collection of works by Eric Ravilious are also within a short drive.

 

The Hotel

We stay at The Star (4*), located on Alfriston’s famously picturesque high street with its selection of galleries and shops. Olga and Alex Polizzi unveiled their latest venture to enormous critical acclaim in the summer of 2021. Dating back to 1345, this was a historic hostelry on the route between Battle Abbey and Chichester, and its 15th century façade remains unchanged, as does the extravagantly beamed bar. Behind this, a charming, leafy courtyard now leads to 30 comfortable and stylish bedrooms, each combining new and antique furniture alongside works by local artists. We will dine each evening in the hotel’s elegant restaurant. There is no lift at The Star but staff are available to help you with your luggage. There is a gated private car park right behind the hotel.

 

 

What's included

...when you travel with Kirker

  • Three nights’ accommodation with breakfast
  • Three dinners
  • Three concerts and talks as described with programme notes
  • The services of the Kirker Tour Leader

Departure Dates and Prices

2023

07 Nov 2023

Status Limited

Price from£1565

Single Supp.£360

Call 020 7593 2284

2024

11 Nov 2024

Status Available

Price from£1685

Single Supp.£390

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Barry Cheeseman

Barry Cheeseman

Cultural Tours Senior Executive

barry.cheeseman@kirkerholidays.com

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MarmenQuartet05.jpeg

The Marmen Quartet

String Quartet

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robert-plane.jpg

Robert Plane

Clarinet

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Simon Roland-Jones

Simon Rowland-Jones

Viola, Composer & Kirker Music Director

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The Sacconi_credit_venetia_van_hoorne_alkema_resize.jpg

The Sacconi Quartet

String Quartet

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Music Programme

2023 - Music Programme

Marmen Quartet
Robert Plane, clarinet


7 November 2023
Haydn: String Quartet in D, Op.33 No.6
Takemitsu: A Way A Lone
Beethoven: String Quartet in E minor, Op 59, No.2


8 November 2023
Mozart: String Quartet in B flat, K159
Stravinsky: Three Pieces for solo clarinet
Bliss: Clarinet Quintet
Debussy: String Quartet


9 November 2023
Haydn: String Quartet in B flat, Op.64 No.3
Janacek: String Quartet No. 2 ‘Intimate Letters’
Brahms: String Quintet In F, Op.88


2024 - Music Programme

Sacconi String Quartet

11 November 2024
Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F minor, Op.80 No.27
Smetana: String Quartet No.1in E minor ‘From My Life’
Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte
American composer Caroline Shaw was born in 1982 and won
Pullitzer for Music in 2013.
A Haydn Quartet will be also be included in this concert.


12 November 2024
Beethoven: String Quartet in B flat major, Op.130
The Sacconi Quartet will include a performance of the Grosse Fugue in B flat major, Op.133. Beethoven composed this quartet to include the Grosse Fugue as an integral part of the piece although it is sometimes not included or indeed played separately. Here, the Sacconi Quartet will play the piece as Beethoven intended.

Roxana Panufnik: Heartfelt
Roxana Panufnik was born in 1998 and is one of Britain’s favourite contemporary composers. Her music was included in the Coronation of King Charles. Heartfelt was commissioned and played by the Sacconi Quartet in 2020.


13 November 2024
Brahms: String Quintet in G major Op111
Ravel: String Quartet

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