King's Lynn festival hosts composers and singers

King’s Lynn Festival is to stage a fascinating first this weekend when four young East Anglian composers will listen to their work performed by a string quartet, and will then hear the comments of a distinguished composer.

The composers’ workshop at All Saints Church, at 3pm on Sunday, November 7, will feature the Hill Quartet, Royal Academy of Music Chamber Fellows who are to be resident artists at Snape Maltings under the Britten-Pears Young Artists’ programme.

After the performances composer Michael Finnissy, Emeritus Professor of Music at Southampton University, will comment on the new works and give advice to the composers.

Tickets are £2 or free to ticket-buyers for a 6pm concert by the Hill Quartet who will perform Mozart’s String Quartet in D major and the third of Beethoven’s first set of quartets.

In addition, Benson Wilson, a New Zealand-born Samoan baritone, who is the prestigious winner of the 64th Kathleen Ferrier award, will feature in a coffee concert on Saturday, November 6 in the Town Hall.

With Lucy Colquhon accompanying on the piano he will present a programme of richly romantic songs, including works by Mahler and Finzi and traditional arrangements by Britten.

The concert will be at 11am at Lynn Town Hall preceded by coffee at 10.30pm.

Festival tickets are available from the Corn Exchange box office on 01553 764864.