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It is the turn of Hereford to host the Three Choirs Festival under the direction of Geraint Bowen, Organist and Director of Music at Hereford Cathedral, who has created a highly-original programme of contemporary works alongside great choral masterpieces and favourites. The 2022 Festival will recall the new beginnings of 1946, when it re-appeared after an absence of 7 years for WWII, with another new beginning following the interruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it promises to be well worth the wait.
You can choose one of two four night holidays or stay for the whole festival (eight nights). Whichever tour you join will include two excursions, as well as some free time to allow for independent exploration.
...when you travel with Kirker
You may choose one of two four night holidays beginning on 23 or 27 July or stay for the whole festival (eight nights). The 8 night price is £2,498 per person, if you would like to reserve a place for all eight nights please call us.
Andrew Biggs read Music and the History of Art at Leeds University. He has led cultural tours throughout the world for over twenty years.
Recent tours include The Metropolitan Opera & the Art Galleries of New York as well as tours to many summer music festivals in the UK including Cheltenham and Buxton Festivals. A teacher and performer, Andrew is currently Head of Prep Music at Berkhamsted School.
The Music Programme
The Philharmonia Orchestra, the Three Choirs Festival Chorus and the Cathedral Choirs of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester will be conducted by Geraint Bowen, Samuel Hudson, Adrian Partington and Kwamè Ryan. Soloists include Dame Sarah Connolly, Jess Dandy, Jennifer Johnston, Bozidar Smiljanic, Anita Watson, James Oxley and Roderick Williams.
23 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Dvorak: Requiem
A very rare performance of this work which was composed by Dvorak who had declined to set the Newman’s 1865 poem to music, instead composing this new work.
24 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Rolf Martinsson (1956 -) Ich Danke Dein
Mahler: Symphony No.4
25 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Sir George Dyson (1883-1964): Quo Vadis – a choral cycle of poems.
Dyson’s work received its first performance at Hereford Cathedral at the 1939 Three Choirs Festival.
26 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Haydn: The Creation
First performed at the old Burgtheater, Vienna on 19 March 1799
Daytime concerts
25 July, 3pm: Hereford Cathedral
Nordic Reflections
The Carrice Singers, director George Parris
A programme of works takes on us a journey from the UK to the forests of Finland with works by Elgar and Sibelius.
26 July, 3pm: Holy Trinity Church
Mark Bebbington, pianist
Works by Ravel, Delius, Ireland, Vaughan Williams and Poulenc.
27 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Bach/Webern: Ricercare
Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen
Robert Blackford (1954 -): Pieta
Based on the combined texts of the Stabat Matter and four poems of Anna Akhtmatova. First performed at The Lighthouse, Poole in 2019.
28 July, 7.45pm: Hereford Cathedral
Luke Styles: Hear my Voice
Contralto: Hilary Summers
The British/Australian conductor was born in 1982
29 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Bach/Stravinsky: Variations on Von Himmel Hoch
Finzi: Dies Natalis
Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchstra
Poulenc: Stabat Mater
30 July, 7.30pm: Hereford Cathedral
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
First performed in Birmingham on 3 October 1900
Daytime concerts
28 July, 2.30pm: Holy Trinity Church
Piatti String Quartet
The much-loved Piatti Quartet, one of Kirker’s favourite groups, play works by Joseph Phibbs and Dvorak’s ‘American’ quartet in F Op.96
29 July, 1pm: Holy Trinity Church
Stuart Jackson, tenor
Jocelyn Freeman, piano
The London-born tenor’s programme ‘English Song’ includes songs by Howells, Gurney and Lets Garland’s Bring and Till Earth Outwears by Finzi
Tour leader
Andrew Biggs read Music and the History of Art at Leeds University. He has led cultural tours throughout the world for over twenty years.
Recent tours include The Metropolitan Opera & the Art Galleries of New York as well as tours to many summer music festivals in the UK including Cheltenham and Buxton Festivals. A teacher and performer, Andrew is currently Head of Prep Music at Berkhamsted School.
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