BOX OFFICE 0333 666 3366
Testimonials for WIMF 2022

‘One of the most distinguished festivals in the UK’

Musical Opinion

IN NOVEMBER 2023 WIMF CELEBRATED ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY with enthusiastic audiences back to pre-Covid levels, enjoying a rich selection of world class artists, continuing to champion Diversity and giving a platform to new generation artists.

Juilliard-Philharmonic

WIMF welcomed the historically renowned US Juilliard Quartet celebrating its 75th anniversary with thrilling performances of late Beethoven quartets, interspersed with contemporary works inspired by them.  The renowned Tippett Quartet also celebrated their 25th anniversary with fine performances of quartets by Mendelssohn and Dvorak, and a Brahms Quintet with added viola.  This was part of our annual celebration of the viola in tribute to the memory of violist Lionel Tertis.  The Philharmonia Orchestra included Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for solo violin and viola as a second part of this tribute.

WIMF 23 was rich in vocal contributions: beginning with a superb performance of Handel’s “Israel In Egypt” featuring the exceptional local Academy Choir, followed by the Armonico Consort‘s dazzling performances of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and two recently discovered works by Franceso Scarlatti.

Roderick Williams - Helen Charlston

A lunchtime concert by the CONVENTional Singers of the Cozzolani Vespers of 1650 drew a large audience and a standing ovation.  There were also two outstanding Song Recitals – by Helen Charlston with Sholto Kynock, piano, with Robin Tritschler standing in at the last moment for an indisposed Allesandro Fisher: the celebrated baritone Roderick Williams charted a fascinating international journey through “Love’s Philosophy” with pianist Iain Burnside.

Sofya Gulyak-Chooi Brothers

There was also some dazzling pianism to enjoy with a poetic, yet virtuosic recital by Leeds International Piano Competition winner, Sofya Gulyak celebrating Rachmaninoff’s 150th anniversary: also former Leeds winner, Ashley Waas, gave a remarkable lunchtime recital, and Clayton Stephenson concluded a thrilling recital with the two Canadian violin superstars Nikki and Timothy Chooi, with a bravura leap backwards over the piano stool after a sizzling virtuosic encore.  This was the second of two concerts by alumni of the Morningside Music Bridge in which a brilliant young, Israeli pianist performed demanding Chamber works from memory.  The keyboard was replaced by a series of buttons for an extraordinary recital on the accordion with Italian virtuoso, Samuele Telari, creating the magic of a full organ, and then an orchestra in which his overwhelming musicality transcended the limitations of his instrument.

Jazz Ensemble-Wigmore Ensemble

The Wigmore Ensemble, lead by clarinetist Michael Collins, inspired with a concert of Mozart’s finest wind music including the ‘Gran Partita’ for 13 wind instruments.  And the final three days of the festival added to the richness of WIMF offerings:  a hugely entertaining evening of Jazz, inspired by the music of Charles Mingus, by the 9-strong multi-cultural band Blues and Roots Ensemble: a Bach-Fest of two concerts on the same day of JS Bach’s violin, and oboe concertos with the renowned violinist Rachel Podger, and Alexandra Belamy with Brecon Baroque. The WIMF ’23 ended with a joyous production of Mozart’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ by the imaginative Regent’s Opera.

Regents Opera - Rachel Podger

With thanks to our sponsors