User:Cathyboyes/Music at Plush Festival

Music at Plush is a music festival taking place each summer in Plush, near Dorchester, in Dorset. The festival runs over selected weekends from June to September and features programmes of classical, contemporary and jazz music.

History

Music at Plush was founded in 1995 by William Lacey and Music Director Adrian Brendel. Beginning as an informal chamber music performance in the small village of Plush, it has since developed into a concert series with a large following. Concerts take place in the former church of St John the Baptist, restored from dereliction in 1992 and transformed into a concert hall. The musicians live and rehearse in the manor house nearby. Over the past fourteen years the music of some 80 composers have been performed by over 100 musicians from around the world, including notable premieres from Harrison Birtwistle and Kit Armstrong.

Programmes

Music at Plush is known for its innovative programming. Recent seasons have included premieres from Harrison Birtwistle and George Kroell (2006); Lieder programmes from Mark Padmore and Till Fellner; appearances from the Kuss, Vertavo and Szymanowski Quartets; piano recitals by Paul Lewis, Aleksandar Madzar, Nicholas Angelich and Alfred Brendel (in his final performing year, 2008); and concerts by the John Taylor Trio, Ensemble Raro, and the resident Plush Ensemble.

Several performances have been recorded for the live music label Plushmusic which features performances of classical, jazz and world music from leading UK venues.