Dozens of classic music lovers flocked to Burnham-On-Sea’s Princess Theatre at the weekend for a two-day festival celebrating the work of one of England’s greatest composers.
Burnham’s University of the Third Age (U3A) and music lecturer Julian Williamson joined forces to organise the Edward Elgar Weekend, held on Saturday and Sunday (February 27th and 28th).
Large numbers of music enthusiasts packed The Princess to listen to lectures and performances from Bristol String Quartet and Burnham and Highbridge Brass Band.
The mornings consisted of illustrated talks, while the afternoon sessions featured the composer’s music.
The Burnham band performed Elgar’s little-known work, the Severn Suite, which he wrote specifically for brass. The band’s director, David Fisher, told the audience it had been the Burnham band’s “most challenging work to date.”
Burnham U3A Chairman Jim Mallinson told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “There has been lots of interest in this year’s first festival, and we fully intend to hold another event in 2011 with a different theme. It’s gone better than we’d hoped for – and we are very grateful to Julian Williamson and Rod Winfield for their hard work behind the scenes in organising it.”
Burnham and Highbridge Brass Band performed Elgar’s little-known Severn Suite
Bristol String Quartet gave a perfect performance on Saturday afternoon
Burnham and Highbridge Brass Band’s conductor during Sunday’s festival
Julian Williamson (centre) with Burnham U3A’s Jim Mallinson and Ken Hindle
