Septura
An American in Paris
They welcome back to the Festival Septura, the internationally renowned brass septet after their triumph in Newbury last year.
A celebration of the vibrant music that arises from the crossing of boundaries of genre and culture.
Septura explore a great transatlantic relationship, charting a course rom Debussy’s Préludes, through Ravel’s Mother Goose, to his friend Gershwin’s iconic An American in Paris, especially arranged for brass and solo car-horns.
The blending of classical forms and jazz idioms is exemplified by Gershwin’s Three Piano Preludes, and in a suite from Treemonisha, the first African American opera, by Gershwin’s compatriot and contemporary, Scott Joplin.
Performers
Ravel Mother Goose Suite
Debussy Préludes (selection)
Gershwin Three Piano Preludes
Joplin Suite from Treemonisha
Gershwin An American in Paris
Sponsored by Fairhurst Estates
The Newbury Spring Festival
Newbury Spring Festival is one of the most popular and successful music festivals in the South of England.
Over the last years the Festival has grown hugely in size and quality building up a reputation of international status.
The very best young musical stars appear alongside some of the world’s most distinguished and famous names.
Newbury Spring Festival is a glorious fortnight of world class music in Newbury and its beautiful neighbouring villages, with up to 45 events in 18 venues, and where international symphony orchestras, ensembles and soloists rub shoulders with jazz legends, world music artists and the stars of tomorrow.
The Festival was founded in 1979 to provide the opportunity to promote culture in the region by creating an annual festival accessible to all.
It aims to bring excellent, new and innovative work from around the world to a variety of local venues adding to the economic and cultural wellbeing of the area, and to continue to create opportunities for young people, existing and new audiences to enjoy the arts.
Newbury Spring Festival is funded entirely by private donation, charitable giving and corporate sponsorship and enjoys its reputation as one of the most important cultural events in the region, attracting audiences of several thousand each year from the immediate area and beyond.
Over the past few years, highlights have included the Soweto Gospel Choir at Douai Abbey which has become one of the Festival’s major venues and established a tradition of world class choirs.
Also in 2006, the Victoria Mullova Ensemble performed an unforgettable concert at Englefield House.
In 2008 John Williams and Emanuel Ax both performed in the Corn Exchange, developing a pattern of an International Celebrity Recital Series in this venue.
In 2004 the Tibetan Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastry took part in an exciting week long Festival residency.



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