Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival 2023

Following on from last year’s theme, A World of Music, this year we celebrate A Family Affair, from Thursday 28 September – Sunday 1 October.

As the planning developed, family connections began to emerge starting with the home of the Salisburys, whose family join together during the Festival weekend, and reaching out to the wider Festival family amongst the audience, musicians and even works being performed. Community is at the heart of this musical gathering.

Each year we celebrate some of the musical history of Hatfield House and this year include works composed during the reign of Elizabeth I. As always the repertoire includes a wide range of familiar as well as lesser known works and commissions that you can look forward to hearing for the first time.

Education is an important part of the weekend, and I’m delighted to welcome our new Education Manager, James Slimings; ESTA UK will be having a day of wellbeing, workshops and discussion on Saturday alongside our Festival activities; and it’s always a pleasure to have musicians from the Purcell School collaborating with illustrator, James Mayhew.

Ensembles made up of great friends, a married couple, siblings and family connections will appear throughout the weekend including Orsino Winds, Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, Julian Bliss Jazz Quintet, Johnston Brothers, Bevan Family, Ruby Hughes, Huw Watkins, Ben Goldscheider, vocal consort Ensemble Pro Victoria, and Orion Orchestra.

Thank you Lord and Lady Salisbury, Board of Trustees, volunteers, Festival Manager Lucy Bending and all our audience for your continued support, friendship and ovations along the way!

I hope you enjoy what I’m sure will be another memorable Festival.

Guy Johnston

Artistic Director