Absolute Classics Festival
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Thursday 9 July — The Four Seasons
The festival opens with music that feels like summer from the first bar. Elgar’s Serenade for Strings sets the tone, before Mozart and Schubert lead into Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Violinist Victoria Lyon (Escala; Britain’s Got Talent) leads Ensemble Lyon in a vivid opening night and a chance to hear one of classical music’s most recognisable works fully alive in the concert hall.
Friday 10 July — Ivan Skanavi and Mana Oguchi
Later on Friday, the festival turns to an intimate, emotionally wide-ranging programme for cello and piano. Cellist Ivan Skanavi joins pianist Mana Oguchi for an evening of contrasts, including Brahms songs reimagined for cello and piano, alongside music by Kodály, Bloch, Schubert, and Schnittke.
Saturday 11 July (10:00) — Young Musicians with Simon Callaghan
Friday morning celebrates outstanding emerging talent from the region. Young singers Catriona Arthur and Lewis Menzies are joined by cellist Will Archibald, a young musician with the kind of focus and momentum that suggests he is going all the way. Together with pianist Simon Callaghan, one of the UK’s most admired collaborative pianists, the concert offers a festival platform for the next generation of performers.
Saturday 11 July — Sacconi Quartet with Simon Callaghan
On Saturday evening, the acclaimed Sacconi Quartet joins Simon Callaghan for a programme of rich lyricism and sweeping chamber music.
The concert opens with Rachmaninov’s Romance, followed by Schumann’s Piano Quintet. After the interval, the programme concludes with Dvořák’s Piano Quintet, one of the best-loved works in the repertoire.
Sunday 12 July (14:30) — Giordano Buondonno
The festival closes its classical programme with pianist Giordano Buondonno in a major solo recital, bringing together Rachmaninov and Scriabin, Debussy’s colour and atmosphere, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Elegant and fiery in equal measure, Buondonno offers a finale with real sense of occasion.
Sunday 12 July (19:30) — Colin Steele’s Kings of Swing
To close the festival in celebratory style, trumpeter Colin Steele, named Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year 2025, brings together a stellar line-up of Scotland’s finest swing players for a night of timeless jazz from the ’30s and ’40s.
Expect classic hits made famous by Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington, delivered with style, sparkle, and decades of combined experience. The band’s repertoire is huge, and, for the second set, they will happily take requests.
The festival opens with music that feels like summer from the first bar. Elgar’s Serenade for Strings sets the tone, before Mozart and Schubert lead into Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Violinist Victoria Lyon (Escala; Britain’s Got Talent) leads Ensemble Lyon in a vivid opening night and a chance to hear one of classical music’s most recognisable works fully alive in the concert hall.
Friday 10 July — Ivan Skanavi and Mana Oguchi
Later on Friday, the festival turns to an intimate, emotionally wide-ranging programme for cello and piano. Cellist Ivan Skanavi joins pianist Mana Oguchi for an evening of contrasts, including Brahms songs reimagined for cello and piano, alongside music by Kodály, Bloch, Schubert, and Schnittke.
Saturday 11 July (10:00) — Young Musicians with Simon Callaghan
Friday morning celebrates outstanding emerging talent from the region. Young singers Catriona Arthur and Lewis Menzies are joined by cellist Will Archibald, a young musician with the kind of focus and momentum that suggests he is going all the way. Together with pianist Simon Callaghan, one of the UK’s most admired collaborative pianists, the concert offers a festival platform for the next generation of performers.
Saturday 11 July — Sacconi Quartet with Simon Callaghan
On Saturday evening, the acclaimed Sacconi Quartet joins Simon Callaghan for a programme of rich lyricism and sweeping chamber music.
The concert opens with Rachmaninov’s Romance, followed by Schumann’s Piano Quintet. After the interval, the programme concludes with Dvořák’s Piano Quintet, one of the best-loved works in the repertoire.
Sunday 12 July (14:30) — Giordano Buondonno
The festival closes its classical programme with pianist Giordano Buondonno in a major solo recital, bringing together Rachmaninov and Scriabin, Debussy’s colour and atmosphere, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Elegant and fiery in equal measure, Buondonno offers a finale with real sense of occasion.
Sunday 12 July (19:30) — Colin Steele’s Kings of Swing
To close the festival in celebratory style, trumpeter Colin Steele, named Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year 2025, brings together a stellar line-up of Scotland’s finest swing players for a night of timeless jazz from the ’30s and ’40s.
Expect classic hits made famous by Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington, delivered with style, sparkle, and decades of combined experience. The band’s repertoire is huge, and, for the second set, they will happily take requests.
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Where is it happening?
Easterbrook Hall, Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, DG1 4, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherAbsolute Classics
