Les Musicales de Rosières

On October 11th 2024, a group of world-renowned British musicians will come together to play a concert of Baroque, Classical and Romantic chamber music in the medieval barn of the Chateau de Rosieres in Saint-Felicien, by the light of candles and chandeliers. Read on, to discover who the musicians are, what they will be playing, and how on earth these superstar musicians found themselves in a little village in Ardeche. Ticket information below.

Tickets

This is a not-for-profit concert, and the musicians are performing for free. All proceeds will go towards the travel of the musicians, and the expenses of putting on the concert. Due to the size of the Chateau’s barn, ticket numbers are strictly limited and will only be available in advance of the concert. Please buy your tickets online or call +33781518100 to arrange payment in cash or by cheque (please be patient on the phone because French is not my first language).

The Concert

20h00, Friday 11th October 2024

Château de Rosières en Vivarais, 07410 Saint-Félicien

In the atmospheric location of a medieval barn, on a dark autumn evening by the light of candles and chandeliers, you will be taken on a journey through 200 years of classical chamber music. The first half is a tour de force of the Baroque period, featuring period instruments and musicians from one of the world’s leading early music orchestras. The second half will move to the classical and late romantic periods, with two lyrical works which will fill the barn with the sound of a grand piano and an enchanting Hungarian String Trio. Both parts of the concert will feature solo performances by remarkable musicians who are used to performing in the world’s greatest concert halls, but have been charmed by the beautiful Vivarais Region (full details below for those who are interested). The opportunity to hear these world-class musicians in such an intimate setting is not to be missed.

Refreshments will be available during the interval.

The Programme

Passacaille from Opus 5, No.4
G.F. Handel (1739)

Three Parts upon a Ground
H. Purcell (1678)

Chaconne: two in one
H. Purcell (1691)

Violin Concerto in G minor from La Cetra: Opus 9 No. 3
A. Vivaldi (1727)

Canon in Three Parts
J. Pachelbel (1680)

Concerto in F minor for keyboard: BWV 1056
J.S. Bach (1738)

INTERVAL

String Trio in C major
E. Dohanyi (1902)

Piano Quartet in G minor.
W.A.Mozart (1785)

---

The Musicians

Paul Barritt (violin) studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and was until July 2022 Permanent Guest Leader of the world-renowned Hallé Orchestra. He was previously leader of the Northern Sinfonia and the English Chamber Orchestra and his numerous recordings include the complete violin sonatas of both Beethoven and Brahms. He has appeared all over the world as leader, soloist and director, including a tour (as soloist and director) to mark the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence. He also directed Isaac Stern’s 75th birthday concert at the Barbican and played Arvo Pärt’s ‘Fratres’ at the same hall in the presence of the composer as well as appearing as soloist in several BBC Proms concerts. He currently performs chamber music across Europe, including directing his own concert series, Tring Chamber Music. He is very interested in cricket and wild birds, and enjoys baking sourdough bread. He’s hoping to spot the famous snake eagle of Saint-Felicien during rehearsals at the chateau. 

Christopher Barritt (Cello), brother of Paul, studied the cello with Joan Dickson at the Royal College of Music, London and with Christoph Henkel in Freiburg. He first performed in the Southeast Bavarian Orchestra in Passau and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. In 1984 he became principal cellist of the Munich Symphony Orchestra. In 2023 his own compositions were first performed in Munich. An experienced chamber musician, Christopher has performed in England, Ireland, Germany and the United States of America. He’s looking forward to adding Ardeche to the list. 

Alison Bury (Baroque Violin) has been involved with the British early music scene since her student days at the Royal College of Music. She met her American husband Richard Earle (see below) while studying in Salzburg, Austria, and briefly lived and performed in the United States. A move to the UK in the early 1980s saw her launch a stellar career in early music, playing with pioneering groups including the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Concert and the English Baroque Soloists. She led the English Baroque Soloists until 2008, touring all over the world and recording the Mozart operas and many of Bach’s sacred choral works, including the Cantatas in the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000 with Sir John Eliot Gardiner. In 1986 she was one of the founder members of the ground-breaking early music ensemble, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. With the OAE she has performed across Europe and the USA as leader, soloist and director, as well as playing at the renowned summer opera festival of Glyndebourne for many years. 

Richard Earle (Recorder) is the only member of the group to hail from the United States. He studied music at the New England Conservatory in Boston. During further studies with renowned early music specialist Nikolaus Harnoncourt and oboeist Jürg Schaeftlein in Salzburg, Austria, he met his British violinist wife Alison Bury (see above). Richard has played baroque oboe with early music ensembles across the UK and Europe for over 40 years and was a long-standing member of The English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. In addition to his playing, he is a talented instrument-maker and spends time perfecting remarkable copies of 18th and early 19th Century oboes. As a craftsman as well as a musician, he was fascinated by the historically-sensitive restoration project that we are undertaking in the Chateau de Rosieres, and we hope to recruit him to come back for more non-musical endeavours here in future!

Annette Isserlis (baroque viola) studied piano and viola at London’s Royal College of Music (RCM), where she specialised in Historical Performance Practice and subsequently taught baroque viola at five of the UK’s leading music schools. In the 1970s and 80s she was a founder member of three of the world’s most influential early music orchestras: English Concert (under Trevor Pinnock), the English Baroque Soloists (under John Eliot Gardiner) and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, with whom she still plays. She spends each summer playing at Glyndebourne, and the rest of the year recording and touring the world with several ensembles, including the Cappella Andrea Barca under Sir Andras Schiff. Her passion for chamber music and historical instruments is closely matched by her love of chickens. She was first drawn to the Chateau de Rosieres by the appearance of our unruly flock on national television. In between touring, Annette is also a music arranger and recording producer, and English speakers might be interested in her monthly podcast “Tea with Netty’, where she interviews musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Englightenment and other notable musical figures.

Rachel Isserlis (Viola and Baroque Violin), sister of Annette (above) was born in London and studied at the Royal College of Music, with further studies in Hannover, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam. She plays a wide variety of instruments, including period and modern violins and violas, and will be alternating between instruments during the concert. In England she has played in all of the major baroque and classical ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the quintet Divertimenti of London. She was the leader of Opera 80 and an annual opera festival in Batignano, in Italy. She currently lives and performs in Germany, but has been persuaded into France by her sister Annette (see above). Rachel is a very creative knitter of animals, and a keen gardener. If she didn’t have so many parts to play in this concert we would definitely be encouraging her to indulge both of these hobbies during rehearsal week at the Chateau!

Paul Nicholson (harpsichord and piano) is a music graduate of York University and Dartington College of Arts in Devon. He is an eminent Early Keyboard specialist in the UK and is an accomplished soloist, chamber musician, accompanist and director. He began his career at the world-renowned Britten-Pears Music School in the East of England, playing at the Aldeburgh Festival. As a keyboard performer he has had notable partnerships with The Locatelli trio, Fretwork, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and many other leading period instrument ensembles. He was also Associate Musical Director of both the London Handel and Telford Bach Festivals. His recordings have included the Handel Organ Concertos and Harpsichord Suites, and projects as guest-director and soloist with the Parley of Instrument Baroque Orchestra. Paul is also an Anglican Priest. Having served in North London parishes, he remains a Priest Vicar of Westminster Abbey and assists at churches in London and Bedfordshire.

Jean Paterson (Baroque Violin) studied music at Oxford and violin at the Royal Academy of Music. She performs all over the world with English Baroque Soloists, Florilegium, The Sixteen, English Touring Opera, London Handel Orchestra, Oxford Bach Soloists and Instruments of Time and Truth. Like many of this group she also plays for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and she was leader of the period instrument orchestra for English Touring Opera. She has a great interest in music education and was for many years the violin coach for Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. She is looking forward to inviting the children of Saint-Felicien’s primary schools to one of the rehearsals of this concert. Jean is a keen walker, and tries to spend as much time in the fresh air as she possibly can. Since a footpath leads from the concert barn directly into the mountains of Ardeche, don’t be surprised if you see her on the path in between rehearsals (with or without her violin). 

Helen Verney (Baroque cello) comes from a musical family and was friends with famous cellist Jacqueline Du Pre, with the two playing duets together. She graduated from the Royal College of Music with many prizes and a scholarship to study with William Pleeth. Her professional life started in contemporary music, working with composers such as Henze, Tippet, Boulez, Ades and Harvey. She appeared as principal cello for Opera 80 and Kent Opera, as well as chamber music concerts, and then became interested in Historically Informed Performance, playing with all the main UK groups. As with most of our performers tonight, she joined the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, touring and recording extensively. She is also a passionate teacher and gardener, and looks forward to exploring the Chateau de Rosieres gardens and estate.

Behind the Scenes

How did a group of world-class musicians decide to interrupt their international touring of famous concert venues to perform in a medieval barn in Ardeche? They happened upon us through a TV show, then visited us last year and fell in love with this beautiful corner of the world just as we did! They are excited to spend a week in Saint-Felicien rehearsing, and then performing for you on Friday night. They are doing so completely unpaid, and all ticket revenue will go towards reimbursing their travel and expenses for the visit. They will also do a special rehearsal for the children of Saint-Felicien’s schools to attend during the week. Please join us in giving them an extra-special welcome to our beautiful region so that we can persuade them to come back again next year!