The 2022 Stanford Festival Weekend was held in Durham between 4 – 6 March to coincide with the retirement of Professor Jeremy Dibble from full-time teaching at Durham University.
On the Friday evening, we enjoyed Evensong in Durham Cathedral followed by an organ recital given by Organist and Master of the Choristers Daniel Cook. Daniel Cook had previously recorded the entire organ works of Stanford and performed the Sonata No.3 in D minor “Britannica” alongside music by Dyson, Vaughan Williams and Bridge. This was followed by the traditional Stanford Festival Weekend dinner which took place in the Undercroft Restaurant of Durham Cathedral.
On Saturday 5 March, the day was kicked off with a chamber recital given by cellist Richard Jenkinson and pianist Benjamin Frith. This included music by Stanford and Rebecca Clarke. This was followed by a song recital given by students at Durham Cathedral.
After lunch, Benjamin Frith gave a piano recital which included Frank Bridge’s Piano Sonata and Stanford’s Dante Rhapsodies. Following this, there was a pre-concert talk given by Professor Jeremy Dibble on Stanford’s Cello Concerto and the Incidental Music to Beckett.
Following Evensong, we were able to attend the Durham University Orchestral Society concert in Durham Cathedral featuring the Overture to The Wreckers by Ethel Smyth, Stanford’s Cello Concerto and Incidental Music to Beckett.
On Sunday 6 March, we were able to attend the Mattins and Eucharist services in Durham Cathedral which was followed by a chamber recital given by the Herbert Street Trio which included music by Coleridge-Taylor and Ireland as well as Stanford.
Stanford Festival 2022 – Durham – Programme
