Listen to classical festival down by the river (From Thurrock Gazette)

Tickets on sale for Roman River Festival

7:00am Friday 3rd August 2012 in Sound Check By Lauren Oldershaw

High note – Keri Fuge

TICKETS are now on sale for one of the area’s most prestigious classical music festivals.

Now in its 13th year, the Roman River Music Festival takes place in a number of churches across north Essex this autumn.

Among the highlights of this year’s event will be a performance of Mozart’s Requiem.

On October 6, the penultimate day of the festival, the Festival Choir will rehearse the piece of music for the final day in Stoke-by-Nayland Church.

The performance, with a professional orchestra and soloists including soprano, Keri Fuge, will be conducted by the festival artistic director, Orlando Jopling.

Other highlights of the festival include Schubert’s Quintet performed by Simon Blendis and Katharine Gowers on violins; James Boyd on viola; and Richard Lester and Orlando Jopling on cellos at All Saints Church, Fordham.

Orlando says: “Tickets are going very well. Many concerts are well on the way to selling out, so people really need to book early. If they wait until September there may not be many tickets left.”

Eight churches on the borders of Essex and Suffolk are taking part, with the addition for the first time of Fordham, Stoke-by-Nayland, Boxted, Lawford and Dedham.

Ticket prices are the same as last year, ranging from £2.50 for the family concerts to £22.50 at the large-scale events. Book tickets from the box office on 01206 729356 or go to info@romanrivermusic.org.uk