Review

A capacity audience was treated to a blockbuster programme of orchestral music last Thursday (20 March 2025) which encompassed Beethoven’s heroic ‘Emperor’ Concerto and the mighty Symphony No.10 by Shostakovich. A full-scale symphony orchestra, including at various points triple woodwind, bass clarinet and contrabassoon, snare drum, tam-tam and xylophone, gave every ounce of energy to … Read more

Vox Cantab, an a cappella chamber choir drawn mainly from former choral scholars at Cambridge University, presented a concert of music and readings featuring composers, writers and poets with strong connections to Petersfield and the surrounding area on Wednesday 19th March. The concert formed part of the Petersfield Musical Festival at St. Peter’s Church. By … Read more

Two young recipients of bursaries given by the Festival’s Michael Hurd Fund delighted the audience at St. Peter’s Church on Tuesday. Elliott Cundy gave a truly virtuosic performance on double bass, while Ukrainian violinist Mariia Lliaskovets both entranced and engaged with her contrasting programme of pieces. ‘It is a privilege to be involved with and … Read more

PMF hosted another sold-out choral workshop on 28th September when over 100 singers of all ages and abilities came together to rehearse and perform Vaughan Williams’ moving plea for peace, Dona Nobis Pacem.  Under the expert guidance of Paul Spicer, accompanied by Mark Dancer, the group of singers, drawn from Guildford and Chichester as well … Read more

Richard Pearce, the renowned organist and choral conductor, treated a packed audience to a varied programme of organ music on Wednesday 17th March in St. Peter’s Church. He book-ended the concert with two works by JS Bach whom he considers the greatest composer of all time, but the rest of the music was by mainly … Read more

The music played by Arthur ‘Art’ Blakey (1919 – 1990) and his Jazz Messengers was the focus of a fine performance from six virtuosic players who enthralled the Petersfield audience with their own interpretations of a splendid selection of numbers from this legendary band leader. Blakey was for years the seed bed for so many … Read more

The 2024 Petersfield Musical Festival opened on 15th March with a lively evening of popular music that brought the singers of Encore Choirs and Legends to the festival for the first time. In her opening remarks, Festival chair Pamela Buckley welcomed Petersfield’s Mayor, J C Crissey and all the audience and performers, and invited everyone … Read more

Philip Young, PMF musical director, enjoyed a royal celebration at this year’s Family Concert. He writes: There was a royal theme to the Family Concert presented by Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra and their conductor, Stephen Scotchmer, on Sunday 17th March. Children were invited to come dressed as their favourite king or queen, prince or princess, and … Read more

It is always a thrill to attend the Youth Concerts during the Petersfield Musical Festival and toenjoy the immense wealth of musical talent that exists in local schools. This year was no exception and the capacity audiences were royally entertained by over 300 singers and instrumentalists. The concert opened with a group of songs collectively … Read more

A capacity audience was treated to an uplifting all-Mozart programme on 16th March conducted by Festival President Jonathan Willcocks standing in for an indisposed Paul Spicer. From the revolutionary opening bar of the much-loved Symphony No.40 in G minor, Mozart’s musical ingenuity, ground-breaking orchestration and effortless gift for melody were clearly in evidence. Southern Pro … Read more