The Castle, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5DG. Doors open 7.00. Bar.

International recorder player and Red Priest frontman Piers Adams - described in the Washington Post as “the leading recorder virtuoso in the world today” - joins forces with multi-talented keyboardist Lyndy Mayle in this extraordinary ‘electro-baroque fusion’ duo. 

Tickets: £17.50 (under 25s £8)

Please note: we are offering a limited number of free tickets to under 25s on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets are also available from the Hay Tourist Bureau and at the door if still available.

Programme

By replacing the familiar sound of the harpsichord with the universe of possibilities offered by the modern-day keyboard, Piers and Lyndy expand upon the dreams of composers of the past, re-imagining music from mediaeval and baroque masters to modern day tango and jazz.   The wizardry of the keyboard - a plethora of instruments in one - is balanced by the natural expressive power of Piers' recorders, creating a perfect blend of ancient and modern in a dazzling and moving performance.  

The programme will include:

Johann Sebastian Bach:  Suite from the Goldberg Variations

Tomaso Albinoni:  Adagio from Concerto in D minor

Georg Philipp Telemann:  Andante and Danse Rustique

Jean-Baptiste Forqueray:  La Boisson

Giovani Antonio Pandolfi Mealli:  La Biancuccia

Ian Clarke:  Hypnosis

Isaac Albeniz:  Asturias

Astor Piazzolla:  Café 1930

Piers Adams is widely regarded as one of the greatest recorder players of our time.  Over his 40-year career he has recorded numerous CDs and given thousands of concerts and broadcasts across the world with his iconic baroque ensemble Red Priest and as soloist in many other contexts, attracting the highest acclaim for his bold and creative musicianship.  He has long held a dream to combine the simplicity of the recorder with the universe of possibilities offered by modern-day synth technology, and this led to the release of his ground-breaking album Bach Side of the Moon in 2018 (which reached no. 5 in the international New Age charts) and - since fortuitously crossing paths with Lyndy - to the formation of Baroque Alchemy.

Lyndy Mayle studied piano and harpsichord at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal College of Music, where she was a multiple prizewinning student.  On graduating, she worked as the music director of several productions at the National Theatre in London and as a recording artist on film and TV soundtracks.  Moving away from the performing world she practised for many years as a music therapist before developing her reputation as a highly respected piano teacher.  Baroque Alchemy marks her return to the concert platform - and to her early music roots - and she brings a wealth of musical experience, passion and spirit to this joyful musical collaboration.

Baroque Alchemy gave its debut concert in the Lewes Baroquefest in July 2022, and since that time has given several sellout performances for festivals, music clubs and theatres throughout the UK.  In 2023 the duo travelled to Germany to give the closing concert at the Blockflöten Festtage, the world's premier recorder festival, to high critical acclaim.  Their London debut took place at the World Heart Beat concert hall in March 2024, at which they launched their groundbreaking album Breaking Free.  Baroque Alchemy's reputation as a truly unique concert experience continues to grow amongst audience and promoters, resulting in a burgeoning schedule for 2025. In a review of one of their recent performances Sussex World wrote: "‘Alchemy’ originally referred to transmuting base metals into gold. No-one could possibly describe Baroque music as ‘base’, but what has been discovered over many years is how adaptable much of this music is to new and effective treatments and instrumentation. But few transmutations have been as genuinely electrifying as this one, a combination of the simple recorder allied to modern-day synth technology, performed by two spectacularly gifted musicians: Piers on a dizzying array of recorders – seemingly snatched at random from their canvas holders – and keyboard player and harpsichordist supremo Lyndy Mayle. What a perfectly matched duo for this innovative and extremely entertaining venture!" 

EVENT 97. In the first of our two afternoon concerts in this year’s Hay Festival, and with memories of their wonderful performance of the two piano arrangement of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in 2022, we welcome back Maki and Ilya with more music for two pianos to entertain and move us.

Tickets: £16 from the Hay Festival Box Office. Having clicked on the link below select the date (Sun 25 May) and choose ‘Music’ from the ‘Choose a genre’ dropdown menu. You will find Event 97 among the other music events there.

Programme

Maurice Ravel:  Daphnis and Chloé suite

Jeremy Arden:  Passacaglia (world première)

György Ligeti:  Three pieces for two pianos: Monument, Self-portrait and Movement

Dmitri Shostakovich:  Concertino

Japanese pianist Maki Sekiya was born in Tokyo and is now resident in the UK. At the age of ten, she made her first public appearance on Japanese television, playing her own three movement composition. Shortly afterwards, she became a scholarship pupil at the Purcell School for Young Musicians in the UK. She quickly attracted attention, with an article in The Evening Standard and an appearance on Sky TV. Even before becoming a teenager, Maki Sekiya made public appearances as a soloist and in concerti. A winner of the Senigallia International Piano Competition in Italy, Maki performs regularly in Russia, Eastern Europe, Japan and in the UK. She held a position as the first Musician in Residence at Green Templeton College, Oxford University, from 2017 to 2022. 

Ilya Chetverikov is a concert pianist and piano teacher, based in Oxford. He has an exceptional reputation as a performer as well as a piano teacher. After receiving his education in Moscow in piano performance and teaching, he moved to Oxford UK to continue his performing and teaching career. He is in growing demand as a collaborative pianist across the UK, has toured in many cities and has made world premier recordings in chamber music, performing in venues such as Sheldonian Theatre, SJE Arts, Dorchester Abbey, Oxford Town Hall and others.

EVENT 355. In the second of our two afternoon concerts in this year’s Hay Festival, we welcome James Woodrow, one of the country’s leading classical and electric guitarists whose repertoire ranges from the contemporary back to Bach.

Tickets: £16 from the Hay Festival Box Office. Having clicked on the link below select the date (Sat 31 May) and choose ‘Music’ from the ‘Choose a genre’ dropdown menu. You will find Event 355 among the other music events there.

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach arr. JW:  Violin Sonata No. 1

Gavin Bryars arr. JW:  Epilogue from Wonderlawn

Igor Stravinsky arr. JW:  Élégie

Michael Tippett:  The Blue Guitar

James Woodrow trained at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, and very quickly became established as one of the country’s leading contemporary classical and electric guitarists, beginning with performances of works such as Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint with the Rambert Dance Company, and in Boulez Le Marteau sans Maitre. He is in continuing demand and much sought after by various contemporary music ensembles, such as Lontano and the London Sinfonietta, and is a long-standing member of both the Gavin Bryars Ensemble and Icebreaker. He performs regularly as soloist and ensemble player with the London Chamber Symphony, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchesta, The New London Chamber Choir, Music Projects London, Almeida Opera and the BBC Singers.

Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5DG. Doors open 7.00pm. Bar. Please note change of date and venue from those originally published.

In a relaxed evening’s entertainment of music from films, musicals and stage works, the acclaimed Ferio Saxophone Quartet demonstrates its supreme flexibility of style. We are delighted to welcome the Quartet for the first time to Hay Music.

Tickets: tba

Huw Wiggin - soprano, Ellie McMurray - alto,

David Zucchi - tenor, Katie Samways - baritone

Programme tba

As one of Europe’s leading saxophone quartets, the Ferio Saxophone Quartet consistently receives a highly enthusiastic reception from audiences and critics alike.  Their four recordings for Chandos Records have all been met with great acclaim in the press and demonstrate the broad range and flexibility of their instruments, repertoire and collaborations.

Accolades and awards have included The Philharmonia/Martin Musical Ensemble Award, the Royal Over-Seas League’s Ensemble Competition prize and selection by both the Tunnell Trust and Park Lane Group.

Concert engagements have taken the ensemble to the leading festivals and concert halls across the UK, as well as on tour to New Zealand, France and Bermuda, and they can frequently be heard on BBC Radio 3 and other national and international broadcasters.

Other important strands of Ferio’s work include a range of educational activity in schools and conservatoires, and developing the saxophone quartet repertoire through commissions, which have included Laura Bowler, Simon Rowland-Jones and Guillermo Lago.

The Quartet was formed at the Royal College of Music in 2012, and has since developed an extraordinary breadth of repertoire, allowing them to draw from an unusually wide range of musical styles and periods in their highly engaging concert programmes.

St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5EB. Doors open 6.30. Bar. Please note change of date and venue from those originally published.

In their wide ranging programme of music from many differing periods the acclaimed Ferio Saxophone Quartet demonstrates its supreme flexibility of style. We are delighted to welcome the Quartet for the first time to Hay Music.

Tickets: tba

Huw Wiggin - soprano, Ellie McMurray - alto,

David Zucchi - tenor, Katie Samways - baritone

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach arr. Farrington:  Fuge in G minor, BWV 578

George Frideric Handel arr. Farrington:  Sarabande from Harpsichord Suite in D minor, HWV 437

Florence Price arr. Farrington:  Three Little Negro Dances

Kurt Weill arr. Harle:  Music from The Threepenny opera

Philip Glass: Saxophone Quartet

Leonard Bernstein arr. Boatman:  West Side Story Suite

As one of Europe’s leading saxophone quartets, the Ferio Saxophone Quartet consistently receives a highly enthusiastic reception from audiences and critics alike.  Their four recordings for Chandos Records have all been met with great acclaim in the press and demonstrate the broad range and flexibility of their instruments, repertoire and collaborations.

Accolades and awards have included The Philharmonia/Martin Musical Ensemble Award, the Royal Over-Seas League’s Ensemble Competition prize and selection by both the Tunnell Trust and Park Lane Group.

Concert engagements have taken the ensemble to the leading festivals and concert halls across the UK, as well as on tour to New Zealand, France and Bermuda, and they can frequently be heard on BBC Radio 3 and other national and international broadcasters.

Other important strands of Ferio’s work include a range of educational activity in schools and conservatoires, and developing the saxophone quartet repertoire through commissions, which have included Laura Bowler, Simon Rowland-Jones and Guillermo Lago.

The Quartet was formed at the Royal College of Music in 2012, and has since developed an extraordinary breadth of repertoire, allowing them to draw from an unusually wide range of musical styles and periods in their highly engaging concert programmes.