Hampstead Arts Festival celebrates eclecticism
This small-scale autumn festival in North London has been carving out an impressive niche since its launch in 2013, offering one-off concerts and talks.
Hampstead Arts Festival has been carving out an impressive niche since its launch in 2013, offering one-off concerts and talks. Music director Eric Usadi says describes it as, “A somewhat eclectic programme of inspiring, beautiful and unique presentations which you won’t hear elsewhere in London this season, in some of the city’s loveliest and most intimate settings.”
The festival’s 3rd season is the largest so far, with a diverse selection of chamber music, jazz (co-presentations with the EFG London Jazz Festival), vocal music, film and a series of discussions curated by former BBC presenter Piers Plowright.
The programme includes a number of “firsts” in classical music including the UK recital debut of Paris-based violinist Sayaka Shoji who will be playing the “Recamier” Stradivarius, the London debut of the Armida String Quartet from Berlin and two world premieres by British Composer Award winner Joseph Phibbs.
The jazz billing includes pianist Tom Cawley’s “Curios,” French Horn virtuoso Jim Rattigan featuring pianist Liam Noble and acclaimed saxophonist Trish Clowes and her trio featuring guitarist Chris Montague and organist Ross Stanley.
The Hampstead Festival is on now and runs throughout November. This year a percentage of the festival’s ticket revenue will be donated to Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead, which provides care and support to people living with terminal illness. For the full programme visit hampsteadartsfestival.com