Festival of Chichester 2020 will offer busy online programme of delights

A busy online programme will put the 2020 Festival of Chichester back on the summer calendar.
Festival of Chichester goes onlineFestival of Chichester goes online
Festival of Chichester goes online

The festival won’t be happening for real; but a significant proportion of the festival fun is now set to go ahead virtually.

The Festival of Chichester has been an increasingly popular month-long June-July fixture in and around the city since its debut in 2013, every year attracting thousands of people to more than 200 events right across the arts and community spectrum. But, on a sad day in March, amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic, the festival’s organising committee concluded they had no choice but to cancel this summer’s festival – for the sake of the safety of performers and audiences alike.

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Since then, however, pressure has grown for the elements of the festival to switch online instead – and the festival committee is now thrilled to confirm Chichester need no longer go without.

Festival co-ordinator Barry Smith explains: “The idea came about through some regular performers contacting us to enquire about the possibility of going online and offering their support. The festival committee was keen to plug the gap in Chichester’s cultural life created by the cancellation of the festival and so many other special occasions which are normally part of the rich variety of entertainment that the city has to offer.

“And so the virtual festival was born – to replace what would have been the eighth festival. Many of the performers scheduled to take part had pre-existing videos they could offer while others have created specials just for us.

“One performer, Dawn Gracie, who has been with us since the beginning, is presenting two live streamed cabaret events. Others are coming to us from Chichester Cathedral, from our twin city, Chartres, from Kings Place in London and elsewhere.

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“A number of the star performers due to be in the festival have also chipped in. We’re delighted to have magnificent piano pieces from Russian maestro Victor Ryabchikov and Reiko Fujisawa, while Ensemble Reza is presenting a wonderful performance of the Brahms Sextet. The contributions come from across the genres we usually present – blues, jazz and folk music, classical concerts, poetry readings, sculpture, art views and even a field recording of wildlife.

“We hope you enjoy these performances and will be clicking on our website every day to see what is new, as well as looking back over events already available online. And we plan to be back next year with an outstanding festival to mark the return of live performance to the city.”

The Virtual Festival of Chichester will launch on June 13 as Chichester celebrates music, literature, talks, art, theatre and more.

Highlights include celebrated pianists Reiko Fujisawa and Victor Ryabchikov, the Cathedral Choristers, Ensemble Reza, the Chichester Singers, cellist Emily Burridge, Duende Flamenco, sculptor Vincent Gray, Ben Rogerson and the Minerva Ensemble, folk/indie singer Tobiah, Pav-los Carvalho, Greek band Plastikes Karekles, Dawn Gracie, guitarists Geoff Robb, Linda Kelsall-Barnett and Rob Johnstone, Costa Poetry Prize winner John Haynes and classical cabaret stars All That Malarkey.

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With audiences this year unable to go to the Festival, the Festival will come to them – online by clicking on the festival website and following the links to a wealth of special events.

As festival co-ordinator Barry Smith explains: “The plan is that for every day of what would have been the festival, a new event will be posted online ready for audiences to enjoy from Saturday, June 13 to Sunday, July 12 at 7pm, so that audiences can look forward to something new each day.

“A huge range of events has been lined up, beginning with the jazz band which would have launched the festival on Cathedral Green, the Stardust Sussex Syncapators, who will perform jazzy versions of The Isle of Capri and I Get the Blues to kick off the virtual festival.”

Dawn Gracie’s two events are going to be live-streamed, but thereafter should be there for catch-up. Apart from her events, the plan is the day’s event will be added at 7pm ready for enjoying at traditional 7.30pm event time.

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“The festival opens on June 13 with the Stardust Sussex Syncapators and continues every day for a month. We hope people will log onto our website https://festivalofchichester.co.uk to follow the progress of our accumulating virtual festival.”

There are some spectacular concerts arranged, including a video of cellist Emily Burridge performing in Chartres Cathedral – which highlights the twinning link between the cities – and from Kings Place, the lively Greek band Plastikes Karekles.

“This will be just one of three contributions from festival regular, Pavlos Carvalho, who will also be performing a mix of Cypriot and Greek tunes and songs with a select band of virtuoso musical friends.

“In addition, Pavlos will be performing Bach’s Solo Cello Suite No 3. Another regular, cellist Ben Rogerson, will also be performing solo with a different Bach piece as well as joining up with the Minerva Ensemble for the Gadfly and other pieces. The Cathedral will be represented by the Choristers singing a Litany by Peter Hurford plus a Remote Artview of some of the Cathedral’s treasures.

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“All That Malarkey are one of the regular highlights each summer and they are returning virtually to the city to sing an enjoyable Beach Boys medley. An alternative take on cabaret will be presented by performer Dawn Gracie, whose lively shows always attract attention.

Jazz and blues guitarists Rob Johnston and Geoff Robb have exciting selections to share, including Geoff’s self-penned Music of Trees. Classical guitarist Linda Kelsall-Barnett, who delighted audiences with her Cathedral performance last year, will return with a new recording for audiences to enjoy.”

Chichester regularly welcomes top-class international pianists to the festival. Reiko Fujisawa is performing a Beethoven tribute in his 250th anniversary year, while Russian maestro Victor Ryabchikov celebrates the music of Tchaikovsky with the Seasons. Ensemble Reza were one of the big hits of the 2019 festival and they are returning with a Brahms Sextet.

Song is celebrated across the genres with contributions from indie/folk singer Tobiah with Are We Angels, soprano Tamzin Barnett and bluesy Ruby Tyger and the Revelators, who sold out their festival gig last year. Poetry and books will be represented by local author John Haynes, the winner of the prestigious Costa Poetry Prize, together with stimulating new poetry posted online by Chichester Poetry.

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The artist responsible for the Keats sculpture in Eastgate is featuring two new projects – his monumental Nelson and Murray sculpture as well as a brand new piece inspired by Major Tom Moore.

The full daily schedule will be released next week.

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