Between 3-6PM there will be an artisanal market with mosaics, lace making, filigree, & more.  Programme Danse Orientale-  Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978)

Bamyan- Philippe Hersant (b.1948)

Fantaisie op. 95- Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Gondoliera- Alphone Hasselmans (1845-1912)

Sarabanda e Toccata - Nino Rota (1911-1979)

Barcarolle no.1 in a-minor- Gabriel Fauré  (1845-1924) arr. A. Rider

Flight of the angel (behind the mask) – Lauren Scott (b.1971) – world premiere

Programme Note “Lyra bent over the open vessel and found the concentrated fragrance of every rose that had ever bloomed: a sweetness and power so profound that it moved beyond sweetness altogether and out of the other side of its own complexity into a realm of clear and simple purity and beauty. It was the smell of sunlight itself.”

― Philip Pullman, The Secret Commonwealth

With Khachaturian’s Danse Orientale, our journey begins amid the rose gardens of Central Asia, whose oils adorn the masked revellers of the Venetian Carnevale; as these precious perfumes travel the Silk Road, they pass the ancient Buddha statues of the Valley of Bamiyan (Afghanistan), whose senseless destruction in our own century is lamented by Philippe Hersant. As we arrive back in Europe the grand, architectural shapes of Saint-Saëns’s Fantaisie for harp evoke the grand Palaces that line the great canals of Venice; in the grey dawn following a masked ball, the haunting song of Hasselmans’ Gondoliera fills the air; But this is Carnevale, and Rota’s mournful lute (Sarabanda) soon gives way to a Toccata, heralding the next evening’s revels in fine Italianate style. In Fauré’s (whose centenary we commemorate this year) Barcarolle, the waters of the canals glitter by lamplight. Finally, in Lauren Scott’s Flight of the angel (behind the mask) revellers gather in St. Mark's Square to witness the famous flight of the angel, where the winner of the 'Marie' beauty contest ‘flies’ from St Mark's bell tower to the Doge's Palace. Artist profile Alexander Rider - harp

Alexander Rider was born in Brighton, in 1987. With interests encompassing period performance to the newest music, he freelances with major ensembles throughout the United Kingdom. These include the Royal Opera House, the BBC Symphony, BBC Concert, BBC Philharmonic and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, London Chamber Orchestra, English Touring Opera, Brighton Philharmonic, Chroma and (on the Erard harp) he appears with groups including the Gabrieli Consort and the Academy of Ancient Music. 

Alexander is noted for his affinity with French music at the turn of the last century, and for his work on original instruments of the period. He has conducted extensive research into the music and players of the time, delving into rich and often hidden histories. In this vein, and using a French Erard harp built in 1902, Alexander has given lecture recitals to great acclaim in the UK, Europe and the USA. In 2022, Alexander recorded ‘Fresque Marine’, a disc of rare French works for the harp, part of a new series for the Willowhayne label.

Alexander studied with Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly, and was a scholarship student of Imogen Barford at the Guildhall school of Music and Drama. From here, he graduated with distinction, and was subsequently honoured with a Guildhall Artists’ fellowship. He is a visiting guest tutor at the Royal Academy of Music, London.