Stringing Along with Rye's Awesome Foursome

The Piatti Quartet (seen rehearsing in St Mary's, right, with pianist Clare Hammond)) the Festival's quartet in residence, have already three performed three concerts and are about to do a workshop for the kids of Rye Primary in a few hours time.

Having started their week-long stay at Ryue Arts Festival on saturday evening with a concert in Iden church, on Sunday evening they did 'Beer & Beethoven' - a free gig in the Queens Head in Ladgate, which went down a storm with the regulars, as did the beer with classical music fans who were (re)introduced to pubs!

Dressed to Thrill at Opera

Icelandic soprano Ranveig Karadottir thrilled a
packed Milligan Theatre at Rye College on Saturday night. Ranveig starred as the tragic Violetta in Verdi's ever popular opera La Traviata. And the plaudits were given also to the other singers and musicians from Euphonia Company lead by conductor and director Alisdair Kitchen. This was the third opera that Alisdair's company have brought to Rye Arts Festival in four years and La Traviata was rated the best yet.

While Euphonia are all young professional musicians,Rye Studio School students also played a key role in the opera with set design, build and dressing as well as technical support. Jade Tate and Bella Woodcock, seen flanking Ranveig above, designed and made the Soprano's stunning red dress.

The Original (Scots) Spiderman Trilogy

Seven hundred years ago the Scots won the Battle of Bannockburn sending proud Edward's army home tae think again! The story of Robert the Bruce has been taken up by novelist Robyn Young in a three-part series called Insurrection, and the final volume, Kingdom has just been published. And in a further timely twist, Robyn will be talking at Rye Arts Festival about her work on Tuesday 16th September, just two days before the Scots' momentous vote on independence.

World Premiere for Rye

The final Saturday of this year's Festival provides a World Premiere! The Piatti Quartet end their residency with a final concert at St Mary's Church and the programme features a new work by the English composer Joseph Phibbs. The concert on 27th September starts at 7.30pm  but at 6.30pm Joseph and the Piatti will do a pre-concert talk where they will discuss their work and all ticketholders for the main event are welcome.

Rye's Resident Quartet on BBC Radio 3

The Piatti Quartet are going to be quartet in residence at this year's Rye Arts Festival in September. And to get a taste of their playing listen to BBC Radio 3 tonight (Monday 25th August) when they will be appearing on In Tune, from 6.30pm.

The Pioatti will be talking about their season, including their week-long at the Rye Arts Festival between 20th and 27th September, which will feature the Quartet in a series of concerts with other guest musicians, open rehearsal sessions, masterclasses for young players and a free gig in a pub!

 

Old Filth Signs Off

Last Friends is the final part of the Old Filth trilogy by novelist Jane Gardam and she will be talking about the book in the Marquee in Lamb House garden at 3pm on Monday 15th September.

Old Filth is the acronym for 'Failed in London try Hong Kong' and described the colonials in the Far East who didn't quite the mustard in the UK and therefore chose to go into the service of the mother country and its natives on the other side of the World. Sir Edwards Feathers, the eponymous character, was anything but a failure. A child of the Raj who had been born and orphaned in Malaya, he moved to HK and was a colossus in its legal system.

Mad For It! New Medieval Rye Walk

A second Medieval Rye: A Guided Walk will take place at 11am on Wednesday 17th September. The date has been set with the guide Jo Kirkham because within days of going on pre-sale to Friends of Rye Arts Festival the original  Medieval Rye: A Guided Walk on 24th September sold out. There is no expectation, however, that you should dress the part like the enthusiasts pictured here.