From the
North Devon Journal:
Commuters are in for a classical treat when they head for the noon train at Tiverton Parkway on Tuesday, August 21. For surprised passengers from London and Plymouth bound carriages will alight to the soothing strains of a Bach musical recital on platform two.
Anyone thinking that a concert should be given in a smart theatre will have to think again as the First Great Western railway station becomes the unlikely venue for a performance of some of the great Johann Sebastian Bach's works.
This Brief Encounter With Bach is the idea of Penny Adie, artistic director of the Two Moors Festival (2MF), the annual autumn feast of classical music at remote venues, small and large, on Exmoor and Dartmoor. Over the past 10 years 2MF has attracted hundreds of enthusiasts to the region.
They flock to hear concerts performed by some of the most talented young musicians in the world and internationally eminent performers.
This first mini-concert between 11.30am and 12.10pm on Tuesday will feature international violinist Kerenza Peacock, who regularly plays with the BBC» Symphony Orchestra as well as for Lord Lloyd Webber, giving excerpts from Bach's E major Partita.
The platform concert is a taster for five mini-concerts at the station, which will take place, one a day between Monday, October 15 and Friday, October 19, at "elevenses time". Each concert will be unaccompanied Bach with a different instrumentalist ^ Tai Murray (violin), Guy Johnston (cello), Liz Kenny (lute), Jing Zhao (cello), Keziah Thomas (harp). They will be playing a mix of partitas and suites.
Unknown to itself, Tiverton Parkway boasts a concert hall within its ticket office. A wooden roof and stone floor, apparently gives this space great acoustics.
"This is a one-off and unusual to say the least although it has been done by someone in Germany," said Penny. "Bach would have loved it and danced a stately gavotte and a spirited gigue boarding the 11.37am to Paddington."
