“Silver linings”. Born out of hunger for live events straight after lockdown, the Islington Festival is returning to some iconic venues that the North London Borough has to offer.
The Festival prides itself on being able to offer FREE tickets to most concerts for young people aged 8 to 25, thanks to the support of the Cavatina Trust. This includes the Opening Concert (July 15th) which will take place in the beautiful St. Mary’s Church, Upper Street, the “ZRI” concert at the same venue – a unique programme that reorchestrates the Brahms Clarinet Quintet mixing it up with some Klezmer and Gyspy music. Another opportunity for free entry is the Lunchtime Concert on Sunday 17th at Islington Square; this features a mix of well-known pieces for violin, and some beautiful hidden gems by female composers which we hope one day will also be part of the repertoire.
Photo credits: Marc Gascoigne
There are also free tickets available for the second week of the Festival – on Thursday 21st you can catch a concert at Christ Church Highbury for a journey through the important relationships between Brahms and the Schumanns (Robert and Clara). This concert will feature a Brahms Piano Trio, songs by Clara Schumann, and Dichterliebe by Robert Schumann.
On Friday the 22nd, you will have the chance to hear “I Musicanti” – a String Quintet performing Dvorak opus 77, Ferranc Quintet and a gorgeous Rossini Duet in between. After that, head to the Newington Green Meeting House for a rare chance to hear The Concert Trombone Quartette, who will guide us through the evolution of the trombone.
If you still have enough energy to hear some more music, on Sunday you can come to the Grande Finale, which will feature the rarely played Dohnanyi Sextet, for the unusual combination of Horn, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano.
