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Cirencester, aquatint 1793 by Joseph Constantine Stadler after Joseph Farington (1747–1821).
Cotswolds Choral Festival - A celebration of the finest vocal music in England’s prettiest region
Festival highlights
- Eight private performances, mostly choral, in towns and villages in the Cotswolds, England’s prettiest region.
- Tremendous variety of sound world – from Palestrina to Pärt, with a focus on ‘local’ composers (Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Parry).
- BBC Singers, Carice Singers, Echo, Gesualdo Six, Gloucester Cathedral Choir, Myrthen Ensemble (Mary Bevan Clara Mouriz, Nicky Spence, Marcus Farnsworth, Joseph Middleton), Theatro dei Cervelli with Roberta Mameli and Tallis Scholars all perform.
- Concerts in five glorious churches, a cathedral, a Regency hall and a Tudor manor house.
- Choose from five hotels, all traditional country-style properties with modern facilities.
Quite simply, there is no prettier part of England than the Cotswolds - The topography of hills and hidden valleys, the exquisitely variegated textures from centuries of farming and grazing, myriad dry-stone walls and ancient hedges, abundant broadleaf woodland and exceptionally picturesque villages: these are reasons enough to visit.
There is also a cluster of capacious, grandly conceived and magnificently wrought churches. Products of the wealth generated in the Middle Ages by the wool trade, these mini-cathedrals are among the most beautiful parish churches in Europe.
Toss in a couple of hugely handsome secular halls – one Regency, one in a Tudor manor – and the Cotswolds comes as close to perfection as the location for a music festival as is imaginable.
Two of the hotels are in Burford, than which a lovelier and livelier little town does not exist. A further three are in Lower Slaughter and Bibury, both even smaller communities but also blisteringly picturesque. In both places, walk five or ten minutes in any direction and you will find yourself in the quietly beautiful countryside.
Though this is primarily a festival of choral music, there is tremendous variety of sound world – a real spectrum of repertoire, of era and place of composition, and of ensemble size.
The 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth is acknowledged in a couple of concerts, and due attention is paid to ‘local’ composers. For nearly 200 years, a quite disproportionate number of English composers were born or lived in the region. These include Hubert Parry, Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Ivor Gurney and Gerald Finzi. But many other composers will be featured: British, foreign (largely Italian), historical and contemporary.
We are delighted to be able to present eight top class ensembles, all choirs except for one vocal ensemble (of some of the finest voices of our time), and an instrumental group from Italy and Switzerland. Some of the choirs enjoy world-wide fame, others are closer to the beginning of their careers but will be the stars of the future.
This is as fine and as concentrated a celebration of music of the voice as you are likely to come across in a long while.
Brochure
Musicians
Practicalities
The price includes:
– All eight concerts.
– Accommodation for four nights – choose between five hotels.
– Breakfasts, all four dinners, and interval drinks; talks on the music by Professor Stephen Darlington.
– All coach transfers, including (for those who need) to/from railway stations on the first and final days – see Day 1 of the itinerary.
– All tips and taxes.
– The assistance of festival staff and a detailed programme booklet.
The Lamb, Burford
Two sharing
Superior: £2,690
Suite: £2,940
Single occupancy
Classic: £2,780
The Bay Tree, Burford
Two sharing
Superior: £2,890
Deluxe: £2,990
Suite: £3,190
Single occupancy
Classic: £2,880
Superior: £2,990
The Country Inn, Lower Slaughter
Two sharing
Superior: £3,290
Junior Suite: £3,440
Suite: £3,590
Garden Suite: £3,790
Single occupancy
Classic: £2,990
Deluxe: £3,190
Superior: £3,640
The Swan, Bibury
Two sharing
Superior: £3,290
Deluxe: £3,390
Cottage: £3,390
Single occupancy
Classic: £3,090
Superior: £3,540
The Manor House, Lower Slaughter
Two sharing
Deluxe: £3,640
Junior Suite: £3,790
Suite: £4,020
Garden Suite: £4,240
Single occupancy
Classic: £3,390
Deluxe: £3,990
There is a choice of five hotels in Lower Slaughter, Burford and Bibury. For location, amenities, comfort, service and price, we believe these are the best in the area.
Your choice of hotel is the sole determinant of the different prices.
Rooms vary. As is inevitable in historic buildings, rooms vary in size and outlook.
Traffic noise may affect some rooms, but generally the hotels are in quiet areas with little traffic in the evenings, especially in Lower Slaughter.
If you would like extra nights in Bibury, Burford or Lower Slaughter before or after the festival, ask us or contact the hotel directly. This would be better done sooner rather than later.
All prices given here are per person.
The Lamb, Burford
Bedrooms are spread through several cottages and a main building which was originally a 15th-century weaver’s house – a charming warren of corridors and steps with low ceilings and exposed timber beams, comfortable and cosy. Bedrooms are individually decorated and with antique furnishings and modern touches. Classic rooms mostly have a shower only; other rooms have a bath with shower fitment and a few have both a bath and a shower.
There are two lounges, as well as a terrace and garden, a good restaurant (two AA rosettes), and a bar which is popular with locals.
There is roadside parking only, but participants are welcome to park in The Bay Tree’s car park just next door.
cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/the-lamb-inn
Prices, per person
Two sharing:
Superior £2,690
Suite £2,940
Single occupancy:
Classic £2,780
The Bay Tree, Burford
Bedrooms are spread between the main house and garden rooms, which are located just outside the main building. All are individually decorated in a charming, traditional style but with a few contemporary twists. Due to the nature of the building, there are lots of stairs and some floors are uneven. Bathrooms vary in size; some have a shower only, others have a bath with shower fitment or a bath and a shower.
The restaurant is bright and contemporary with a flagstone floor and there are two cosy lounges as well as a pretty garden.
There is a small hotel car park, free of charge.
cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/the-bay-tree-hotel
Prices, per person
Two sharing:
Superior £2,890
Deluxe £2,990
Suite £3,190
Single occupancy:
Classic £2,880
Superior £2,990
The Country Inn, Lower Slaughter
A couple of minutes from The Manor, this is a more informal and less glitzy hotel (it is in fact technically a 5-star ‘Inn’ in terms of classification). Externally traditional, the modernised interiors still retain the charm of a country inn. Bedrooms are spacious, simply decorated and well equipped. Classic and Deluxe rooms have a shower only; Superior and above have a bath with shower fitment, and a further few rooms have a separate bath and shower.
For dining, there is a traditional bar area with beamed ceilings or a bright and contemporary restaurant (same menu, two AA rosettes). The Inn sits within four acres of informal seasonal gardens.
There is a large hotel car park adjacent to the hotel, free of charge.
Prices, per person
Two sharing:
Superior £3,290
Junior Suite £3,440
Suite £3,590
Garden Suite £3,790
Single occupancy:
Classic £2,990
Deluxe £3,190
Superior £3,640
The Swan, Bibury
Located in a famously pretty village, The Swan is a 17th-century former coaching inn on the banks of the River Coln. Bedrooms are spread between the main house, garden rooms and cottages, and are individually and tastefully decorated with traditional furnishings brought up to date with modern touches. Bathrooms vary in size; some have a shower only, others have a bath with shower fitment or a bath and a shower.
There is a fairly small but airy ‘writing room’ at the front, a cosy bar and a garden with seating. Food in the contemporary brasserie is good. This is the only hotel with a lift, and it only provides access to the first floor.
There is a small hotel car park, free of charge.
cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/the-swan-hotel
Prices, per person
Two sharing:
Superior £3,290
Deluxe £3,390
Cottage £3,390
Single occupancy:
Classic £3,090
Superior £3,540
The Manor House, Lower Slaughter
Built in the 17th century as a private mansion, this very comfortable 4-star hotel stands in its own grounds in the centre of the village. Bedrooms vary but are a good size, stylishly furnished and well equipped. Bathrooms are generous in size and well lit; some have a glass door to the bedroom. Most have a bath with shower fitment, while higher category rooms have both a bath and a shower.
The downstairs area is spacious, with three elegant lounges and other amenities. The renowned contemporary restaurant has been rewarded three AA rosettes. The Manor is surrounded by five acres of landscaped gardens, set in the picturesque village of Lower Slaughter which borders the River Eye.
There is a good size hotel car park behind the hotel, free of charge.
Prices, per person
Two sharing:
Deluxe £3,640
Junior Suite £3,790
Suite £4,020
Garden Suite £4,240
Single occupancy:
Classic £3,390
Deluxe £3,990
Some walking is unavoidable on this festival, between coach and venues and to get around towns and villages visited. Four out of the five hotels do not have a lift; The Swan in Bibury is the exception (and this lift only accesses the first floor).
Participants need to be sure-footed and able to manage everyday walking and stairclimbing without difficulty.
We ask that you take our fitness tests before booking.
If you have a medical condition or a disability which may affect your holiday or necessitate special arrangements being made for you, please discuss these with us before booking – or, if the condition develops or changes subsequently, as soon as possible before departure.
Private. All the performances are planned and administered by us, and the audience consists exclusively of those who have taken the festival package.
Seating. Specific seats are not reserved. You sit where you want.
Audience size. There will be up to 140 participants on the festival. One of our venues cannot hold this number, so at this the performance will be repeated.
Acoustics. This festival is more concerned with locale and authenticity than with acoustic perfection. The venues may have idiosyncrasies or reverberations of the sort not found in modern concert halls.
Changes. Musicians fall ill, venues may close for repairs: there are various circumstances which could necessitate changes to the programme. We ask you to be understanding should they occur.
Participation in our festivals is a very different experience from conventional group travel.
No repetitive or redundant announcements, no herding by elevated umbrella, no unnecessary roll calls, little hanging around. We work on the assumption that you are adults, and our staff cultivate the virtue of unobtrusiveness.
Though there will be up to 140 participants, you will often find yourself in smaller groups – the audience is divided between five hotels, and into different restaurants for most of the dinners.
We provide sufficient information to enable you to navigate the festival events without needing to be led. However, festival staff are also stationed around the events to direct you if needed.
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Testimonials
“Thank you for such a great experience. Now I know why friends speak so highly of MR.
”
“There was a lovely variety of music and it was all wonderful. My first love is choral, and I was thrilled to hear the Tallis Scholars (twice).
”
“The music was exceptional. Venues well chosen and beautiful.
”
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