Duke of Kent visits Newbury Spring Festival

NEWBURY enjoyed a royal visit on Saturday when Newbury Spring Festival welcomed HRH The Duke of Kent to a performance at St Nicolas Church, in his role as patron of the festival.

The Duke attended with his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor and her husband Timothy Taylor.

He was met by the festival chairman and Vice Lord Lieutenant Graham Barker.

This year marks the 45th year of Newbury Spring Festival, and also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Newbury Festival Chorus and the 15th anniversary of the Sheepdrove Piano Competition.

Representatives from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Newbury Spring Festival and Greenham Trust were presented to the Duke on his arrival. Those presented included the festival director Mark Eynon and general manager Ashley Morris.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra gave a bravura performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto with international soloist Andrei Ionita and Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 under the baton of Jonathan Bloxham.

Andrei Ionita’s playing was described as “exhilarating and of the highest order”.

Newbury Weekly News reviewer Helen Bomgardner said: “Captivating from the start, Ionita’s passionate performance was superb: powerful and dramatic…The audience could hardly wait to applaud with many shouting Bravo!”

The concert was one of many high points in the middle of the festival with another full week of concerts planned before the closing concert on Saturday with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.