The Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival weekend kicked off last Friday June 23 with magical music which I soaked up Friday, Saturday morning and Sunday evening – adding in a concert in Hastings on Saturday evening.
Many interesting people visited Peasmarsh’s cultural feast, including a German couple (pictured right) who mentioned that they are avid readers of Rye News as they have a house in Camber and like to keep abreast of local happenings.
The other special and very enjoyable chamber concert I attended, Saturday evening July 24, was performed by the Archaeus Quartet, in St Clement’s Church in the Old Town in Hastings. The quartet (pictured at top) is made up of cellist Martin Bradshaw , two violinists and one viola player who entertained us with music by Beethoven, Salzedo and Schubert.
The acoustics in this beautiful church are wonderful and the sound was at times intense, romantic and exhilarating. Those instruments are my favourites so I was in paradise this weekend. Martin Bradshaw lived in Rye for many years, but now resides in Hastings.
The Archaeus Quartet is an established group, formed in 1990 and has enjoyed a busy schedule from the very first time they were asked to perform, playing throughout the UK and touring in Europe.
They will be appearing next in the Monastery on Rye’s Conduit Hill on July 21 as part of the Rye Arts Festival. I would very much recommend this evening.
For further details about the quartet go to: thearchaeusquartet.blogspot.co.uk
Photos: Heidi Foster