• The Festival Directors

• The Speakers

• More about the concerts

The Festival Directors

There have been many times when Wigmore Hall audience members have spoken to me enthusiastically about Martin Randall music festivals, which certainly make a lasting impression on those who attend them. Whilst I was no stranger to them, it still came as a surprise – a very agreeable one – when Martin invited me to curate the programmes for the 2012 Danube Music Festival.

Martin Randall and Wigmore Hall have enjoyed a long association already and the idea of such a collaborative venture was, therefore, doubly welcome. Although I’m not familiar with every venue in the festival, I do know the ethos of choosing appropriate artists and music for them and have tried to do so accordingly. I can’t think, for instance, of a finer vocal group to highlight the glories of Melk Abbey than Stile Antico, or a more atmospheric and historic place in which to hear the rich sound of the baryton – Haydn’s own favourite instrument – than Esterháza Palace.

Though these occasions will be particular pleasures for me, I can, of course, warmly commend all the superb artists who so readily agreed to perform for this festival. The wonderful soprano Christiane Karg, who I confidently predict will become an instant hit when she makes her debut at the Hall in 2012, joins a host of musicians; all of them established Wigmore favourites. I am very pleased that the baritone Henk Neven, who made such a wonderful impression with his debut recital last season, could be part of this special festival. Also, Alina Ibragimova will join us for solo Bach, following a number of sold-out Wigmore recitals and a thrilling survey of Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas for our record label Wigmore Hall Live.

It has been a real pleasure for me to put these programmes together and I hope you enjoy hearing these special concerts in such beautiful surroundings as much as I will.

John Gilhooly.

Wigmore Hall has for decades been the world’s finest concert hall for chamber music and song, but it has not rested on its laurels. During the five years of John Gilhooly’s leadership its stock has risen even higher, with a scarcely believable increase in ticket sales of 50%, an ever wider variety of music and a broadening of the audience without any disenchantment among its loyal core. 

For an institution already at the top of the tree, and at a time when ‘classical’ music is slipping from its position at the heart of shared national culture, that is a very remarkable achievement.

It is an honour for Martin Randall Travel to be associated with Wigmore through the 2012 Danube Festival of Music, which I have been running since its inception in 1994. As with every music festival, in each edition there have been changes. Always some of the artists are new to the festival, usually there is a venue or two we haven’t used before and the over-arching theme or organising principle is regularly renewed.
So I asked John whether he would like to select the artists for the 2012 festival and transform it into a sort of Wigmore on Water. Slightly to my surprise he agreed with alacrity. The happy result of our planning and plotting is now in your hands, and a thrilling prospect it is too. Please join us.

Martin Randall.

 

The Speakers

Roderick Swanston is a musicologist widely known as a lecturer and critic, combining immense learning with wit and enthusiasm. Formerly professor of music theory and history at the Royal College of Music, he lectures at Imperial College London, is a speaker at several music festivals and concert halls and is a frequent broadcaster on BBC Radios 3 and 4.

Tim Blanning is Emeritus Professor of Modern European History at
the University of Cambridge, Fellow of Sidney Sussex College and
Fellow of the British Academy. Among his many books are Joseph II, the award-winning The Culture of Power and the Power of Culture, the best-selling The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648–1815 and the much-translated The Triumph of Music.

More about the concerts

Private events. These concerts are planned by John Gilhooly and Martin Randall Travel, and administered by the latter. The audience consists exclusively of those who have bought the full festival package.

Seating. Specific seats are not reserved. You sit where you want.
Acoustics. This festival is more concerned with authenticity and ambience than acoustical perfection. While some of the venues have excellent acoustics, some have idiosyncrasies not found in modern concert halls.

Changes. Musicians fall ill, venues require restoration, rivers flood (or run dry): there are many unforeseeable circumstances which could necessitate changes to the programme. We ask you to be understanding should they occur.

Floods and droughts. Climate change is affecting weather patterns. We cannot rule out changes to the programme arising from exceptionally high or low water levels on the Danube, either of which may bring river traffic to a halt. These might necessitate more travel by coach or the loss of a concert, though we would always try to minimise the impact on the itinerary.

• Concert details and programme

• Ship details

• Prices

• How Strenuous?