‘Walk in Beauty’ is an exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature as seen through the eyes of musicians and writers, a varied programme ranging from the early 19 th century right up to the present day. Music written in previous generations is complemented by the response of several contemporary composers to the crisis in nature, including the premiere of a work commissioned by the Festival from Cardiff based Ella Roberts, who grew up in Calne. Other contemporary composers represented include Sally Beamish and Peter Fender, whose setting of a Navajo meditation gives its name to the whole programme.

‘Walk in Beauty’ is an exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature as seen through the eyes of musicians, a varied programme ranging from the early 19th century right up to the present day. Music written in previous generations is complemented by the response of several contemporary composers to the crisis in nature, including a work by Sally Beamish and a new commission from Peter Fender, a setting of a Navajo meditation which gives its name to the whole programme. The music is complemented by texts and poetry.

‘Walk in Beauty’ is an exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature as seen through the eyes of musicians, a varied programme ranging from the early 19th century right up to the present day. Music written in previous generations is complemented by the response of several contemporary composers to the crisis in nature, including a work by Sally Beamish and a new commission from Peter Fender, a setting of a Navajo meditation which gives its name to the whole programme. The music is complemented by texts and poetry.

The Ridgeway Ensemble present pot pourri of music and words from the salons of the 19th Century, the cabarets of Vienna and Berlin and the cafés of Paris. A light-hearted and tuneful concert of familiar and less well known repertoire including works by Gounod, Fauré, Bernstein, Britten, Joplin and Edith Piaf.

The Ridgeway Ensemble present pot pourri of music and words from the salons of the 19th Century, the cabarets of Vienna and Berlin and the cafés of Paris. A light-hearted and tuneful concert of familiar and less well known repertoire including works by Gounod, Fauré, Bernstein, Britten, Joplin and Edith Piaf.

In the turbulent years following the French Revolution the position of the artist in society changed forever.  In their new programme, the innovative Ridgeway Ensemble turn their attention to the maverick composer Beethoven.  We ask, was he really the lonely revolutionary genius of the romantic imagination, writing only for posterity?  How did he and his predecessors Haydn & Mozart fit into society, and how did their successors, Schubert, Brahms and Strauss live as society changed in the 19th century?

The Ridgeway Ensemble is joined by violinist Esther King Smith for a programme of chamber music and songs, with quotations from letters and contemporary accounts to explore the relationships between composers and their patrons.