2011 Anniversary Brochure - Paxos Festival Trust

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A good but robust piano was also needed that would withstand being moved around the island on an olive oil truck to the various concert locations, and stored in Magasia in the winter away from the salt air. His friend Michael Parfitt ( organist,harpsichord maker, gilder amongst many skills) selected the Yamaha and then meticulously tuned it daily after the afternoon practice session whilst audiences waited outside until all had been properly done, including ironing the felt pads! The Goughs were finding their cottage too small, and embarked on building a new main house with a detached music room. A fine piano was obviously required which culminated with John and Michael journeying to Grotrian Steinweg to make the selection: its installation in its new home led to many joyous events John Gough was such an inspiration for musicians and I am so grateful to him for all he did for so many of us at the start of our professional life. How often do we get the opportunity to play chamber music for days on end on a beautiful Greek island? How often do we get the chance to rehearse properly over several days, instead of cramming rehearsals into busy lives? Or to receive top coaching, as from Julian Jacobson or members of the Ensemble Modern? John's vision and enthusiasm gave us these wonderful opportunities. I have so many fond memories of my time at Paxos: playing Schubert's Octet with Jagdish Mistry al fresco at the back of the Loggos Schoolhouse one evening; performing Arensky's Piano Trio in the open-backed rooftop Phoenix nightclub at Gaios, and as the music got more stormy, a real storm broke out with wind and rain lashing in...but we carried on playing. Or performing Schoenberg's fiendish String Trio of all pieces and people really liking it; practising outside in the olive grove in the afternoon heat so as not to disturb neighbours in the siesta; seeing the cellist Alexander Scherf playing solo Bach cello 13Suites outside on the beach at Loggos; playing string quartets outside in the square at Gaios with Claire Dolby, William Coleman and Jonathan Cohen; watching Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale performed in Greek. What else? Swimming, a boat-trip to anti-Paxos (where the locals apparently liked to go because life was more relaxed there - as if like on Paxos itself was anything but calm and relaxed!), Greek yoghurt and balconies and stairways brimming with gorgeous bourgainvillea. But the music was the greatest thing for me. Above all, it was the opportunity to be a real musician and develop as a musician in idyllic surroundings. Thank you, thank you, John! Marcus Barcham-Stevens As a young musician, some of my most formative musical experiences occurred on the idyllic island of Paxos in Greece. The musicians I met there led to us forming a string quartet that we called the Paxos Quartet in honour of John Gough and Paxos. We played together for some years, Claire Dolby, Marcus Barcham Stevens, William Coleman and myself a cellist, until we all headed in different directions in later life. Playing chamber music to such a high level with international musicians was a superb learning experience and we achieved a very high level during our studies and concerts at Paxos. It was a hugely formative time when we studied hard and received excellent tuition. I believe that the opportunity to participate in such a festival gave us all a headstart in our careers and helped us to develop as musicians. Jonathan Cohen 12 13
So many memories! Most importantly the wonderful young players, and a few singers, that we caught on the wing and gave a usually deeply appreciated helping hand to. Pride of place, though he didn't really need us, must go to the now international violin soloist Leonidas Kavakos who wowed us all when he was 18. Among the scores of students, particularly I think of Richard Bamping (principal cello of Hong Kong Phil); James Boyd, top UK chamber violist; Alasdair Beatson, fine pianist who was helped by John and the Trust to study with Menahem Pressler; Sophie Karthäuser, wonderful Mozart singer, now with several highly acclaimed CDs; Rafal Payne, stellar violinist; and for this writer maybe most of all Chris Richards, immaculate clarinettist and now principal of London Symphony Orchestra. Also all the wonderful Greeks who enlivened the place so much and who loved John (and he them). A personal favourite: Evie Papathaniassou, cello, who also put on some spectacular displays of Greek dancing. Many of them are in respected positions in Greece or abroad, eg the conductor Vassilis Christopoulos, Chief Conductor of the South-West German Philharmonic Orchestra, who came to us first as an oboist and then returned to conduct The Soldiers Tale (Stravinsky). The wacky venues (Alonis Disco, Lakka Schoolhouse) and the wonderful Phoenix Music Club which became our home in the late 20th and early 21st centuries and which is for me, somehow, the spiritual home of Paxos music. The exciting if nervewracking one-off events: the huge theatrical "History of Paxos" in 2000 with me as an improbable actor, the choir concerts which I (sort of) rehearsed and directed, the Toy Symphony and Prokofiev "Peter and the Wolf", both with local children, my transcription of Debussy's "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" (2003 I think) for every participant on the festival, including a spectacularly beautiful Greek harpist, after which I remember writing that I could now die happy; the cabaret and spoof pieces and arrangements, "The Girl from Ipapanti", "Phil the Fluter's Ball", Schoenberg's "Die Eiserne Brigade" with everyone dressed up in battle gear borrowed from the local military - these mainly in the final "Surprise" concerts, John's happy inspiration. But above all, my annual hired motor scooter, an endless source of freewheeling pleasure which I always preferred for travel even when my duties required me to have a car. A wonderful 17 years for which I shall always be deeply grateful! Julian Jacobson 14 15
Page 1 and 2: PAXOS MUSIC FESTIVALS...... THE FIR
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to our celebrations for the
Page 5 and 6: I met John Gough the very first yea
Page 7: The Early Years 1986 - 2004 John an
Page 11 and 12: The master classes in Paxos in 2006
Page 13 and 14: GSMD at the September Festivals 200
Page 15 and 16: Concert 1 Thursday 8 September at 8
Page 17 and 18: Concert 3 Tuesday 13 September at 8
Page 19 and 20: minor but to B flat major. The moti
Page 21 and 22: John Bacon (tenor) England-based Ca
Page 23 and 24: Pal Banda and Zsuzsa Berenyi Pal wa
Page 25: The 2011 Paxos September Festival i

2011 Anniversary Brochure - Paxos Festival Trust

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