The Wihan Quartet is one of the finest string quartets in the world today. Formed in 1985 and still made up of the original four members, they have an outstanding reputation for interpretation of their native Czech repertoire and also of Classical, Romantic and contemporary masterpieces. They have toured internationally, perform regularly at major European festivals and are frequent visitors to the UK.

For this weekend, three concerts present a Czech masterpiece in combination with one or two mid-19th-century German quartets, by Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. The fourth is all Czech: Smetana and Dvořák.

Pre-concert talks are given by Sandy Burnett. Broadcaster, conductor and performer, he is a regular presenter on BBC Radio 3 and has worked as music director for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

www.wihanquartet.com

A Music Weekend arranged by Martin Randall Music Management is a very special experience. There is the pleasure, first, of hearing music performed by musicians of the highest calibre, artists who are among the very best in their fields. Many come from mainland Europe and America.

Second, the music is played in an intimate setting, a small hall little bigger than a large drawing room – just the sort of size which composers used to have in mind for chamber music. The audience is rarely more than a hundred and often fewer, and consists mainly of those who stay throughout the weekend and attend all four concerts. Some tickets for individual concerts are also sold locally.

Third, the weekends are based at hotels, The Castle at Taunton and Jesmond Dene House at Newcastle, which rank among the finest in England. Both are famous for comfort, character, and both have award-winning restaurants. We have exclusive use of the hotels during these music weekends, and there is opportunity for artists and audience to mingle throughout the weekend.

While these events are undeniably indulgent and leisurely retreats, they are also intended to stimulate the mind and enchant the aesthetic sensibilities. Within an over-arching theme, the music is carefully chosen and programmed to provide an illuminating sequence – while each concert is satisfyingly self-sufficient. Some weekends include pre-concert lectures, and musicians often talk as well.

Literary weekends, introduced at The Castle in 2009, follow a similar format, with five or six highly distinguished writers in a particular field giving talks and leading discussions. For the November 2010 slot we have gathered some of the finest historians in Britain.
The price for the weekend packages covers almost everything, from the concerts themselves to interval drinks, via luxurious accommodation and memorable dinners. Even gratuities for hotel staff are included.

There have been music weekends at The Castle since 1977, and Martin Randall Music Management have been organising them since 2003. The weekend at Jesmond Dene House in March 2011 will be their first.