Entertainment
Schubert's music at the Hollybush pub
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| Morag Crowther, pub landlord John Champion, and Peter Crowther |
MOST of the concerts produced by Vital Recitals are performed in a church, but for the first time they are branching out and staging a Schubertiade in the garden room of the Hollybush pub, in Corn Street, Witney, on Saturday, at 8pm.
And why not? During Schubert's lifetime, his music was never performed in a cold church, and was only heard in the concert hall on a few occasions. The lack of widespread public awareness didn't bother Schubert - he was a man driven to spend his time composing, rather than courting a large audience. He shared his music with friends instead, by establishing regular quartet-parties in his own home, with his two brothers playing the violin, his father the cello, while he played the viola. The majority of his songs would have been heard in the house of a friend's parents. These parties soon assumed the name of Schubertiaden, and were very popular.
As organiser, John Bingley, points out: "Staging this concert of Schubert's songs in a popular Witney pub, which offers all the atmosphere of a good market town hostelry, is certainly in keeping with the way this wonderful music was first performed. As soon as I saw the Hollybush's renovation of the Old Pit, the barn/garden room at the back of the pub, I realised we could use this space to recreate the intimate atmosphere of the original Schubertiade."
John sees classical music, such as Schubert's, as the pop music of its day. Sadly, it's now thought of as music for the elite. Any attempts to popularise classical music has often meant dumbing down the music itself, rather than holding it in an appropriate venue. He is convinced that Vital Recital's Schubertiade, performed by the Walton String Quartet, will help change all that.
As this venue has limited space, tickets must be booked in advance, by ringing 01993 709596, or 07703 691595.
3:15pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
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