TRIUMPHANT FINALE TO HIGHLY
SUCCESSFUL MAYFIELD FESTIVAL

The 22nd Mayfield Festival of Music and the Arts concluded in spectacular style on Sunday 9th May 2010, with the much-awaited return to the village by Sir David Willcocks as part of his 90th birthday celebrations.

During an evening of French choral music, Sir David conducted the Mayfield Festival Choir and chamber orchestra London Primavera in a performance of Fauré's Requiem and justly received not just one, but two standing ovations from the audience which filled St. Dunstan's, Mayfield's beautiful Parish Church.

Those lucky enough to secure a ticket for the event, which sold out several months ago, first enjoyed selected works by Fauré and Gounod under the direction of distinguished conductor and Director of Mayfield Festival Choir, Graham Caldbeck.

As Sir David took to the podium in the second half, he commented on his approval that the Requiem was to be performed in such a magnificent setting as St Dunstan's. In introducing the young chorister Macsen Lambert, who sang Fauré's Pie Jesu, Sir David - one of the finest musicians of our times - also recalled his own debut as a soloist some 80 years ago.

The moving evening was a fitting end to one of the most ambitious and enriching festivals staged to date in Mayfield. The daily programme of events, which began on 23rd April, has included recitals by the internationally renowned baritone Sir Thomas Allen; the distinguished American pianist Kevin Kenner; Tenebrae, Britain's finest vocal ensemble, and Vivaldi experts La Serenissima, in addition to performances by the young students of St Leonards-Mayfield School and the recently formed choir, The Mayfield Consort.

Plans are in hand already for the next festival, due to take place in 2012. Under the artistic direction of the renowned tenor and teacher Neil Mackie CBE, the programme promises to be as remarkable and varied as for this year's hugely successful event, which has earned its place as one of the highlights of the South East's events calendar.

Priority Booking

As usual, some concerts will sell out as soon as tickets go on sale for the next festival.

By joining Friends of Music in Mayfield you can enjoy priority booking as well as discounted prices. Full information is obtainable by writing to:

PO Box 324,
Mayfield,
East Sussex,
TN20 6WA

or by email to: info@mayfieldfestival.co.uk

For more details about the Mayfield Festival Choir please visit mayfieldchoir.co.uk