Following the success of the annual Early Music Days in July and the inaugural Charles Burney Early Music weekend in 2022, King’s Lynn Festival announces the second Charles Burney Early Music Festival, this autumn, from Friday 29 September until Sunday 1st October 2023.
Concerts will feature Steven Devine and the award-winning Apollo’s Cabinet. Launching their CD “Charles Burney Baroque Travelblogger” Apollo’s Cabinet open the Festival with a programme following Burney’s journeys across Europe with music from the countries he visited. This takes place in the historic Town Hall, a space that Burney himself used for performances and will include readings from his travel diaries. Steven Devine (and friends) will include pieces by the Bach family and other contemporaries of Burney in their performances, concluding with a tea-time concert (including tea and cake) such as the Burney family might have enjoyed in King’s Lynn.
The Festival celebrates the life of one of King’s Lynn’s most distinguished residents, who was organist at St Margaret’s Church (now King’s Lynn Minster) for almost 10 years in the middle of the 18th century. Charles Burney was renowned for writing a History of Music and his two substantial diaries which document his two extended tours across Europe, during which he met many famous musicians including Mozart and the Bach family, recording information about the instruments and musical practices of the day.
The Festival also features a lecture about Frances Burney (daughter of Charles) by the President of the Burney Society, Trudie Messent and a walk around King’s Lynn introducing the historic buildings known and used by the Burney Family.
Tickets for all events are available via www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk or from King’s Lynn Corn Exchange box office on 01553-764864.
Full programme details at www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk