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.