The Sarratt Festival****

12:13pm Friday 10th October 2008

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You’ve heard of the Edinburgh Festival, but did you know about the Sarratt Festival of Music? Since 2000, Sarratt has been treated to the annual delight of two weekends of music, given by professional musicians of national and international renown. Their latest series was no exception.

Clearly a lot of people do know about the festival, as this month the village hall was packed to hear members of the London Mozart Players give a superb and uplifting recital of Mozart and Schubert, and the next night a concert by the Princess of Jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth and her musicians.

The following weekend, The Clerks, a vocal group who specialise in Renaissance works, gave us a wonderful and moving evening of madrigals and sacred music, interspersed with more contemporary songs. The six singers produced a warm and yet penetrating sound, which held the audience throughout. I had never thought of internet spam and junk mail being set to music, but they managed to produce joyful tunes out of those infuriating messages. Their final English songs, including Linden Lea, were sung with particular poignancy.

The grand finale last Saturday was a family concert, in which Sarratt children were involved, writing and performing alongside the professionals. It was a joyful, funny and stimulating evening.

The musicians who attend are more used to international stages, the Royal Albert Hall and recording studios. What a privilege to have them play to local audiences. Among them is the eminent pianist, John Lill, who has played previous festivals, and has asked if he may come again next year!

Eleanor Clarke