The Kirker Music Festival, Alfriston

We are looking forward to returning to Alex Polizzi’s hotel in the picturesque and historic village of Alfriston for our second Kirker Music Festival. The third and most recent addition to the Polizzi Collection of hotels, The Star is a superbly-managed and welcoming hotel with elegant accommodation and delicious cuisine.

Music is at the core of our stay at The Star, with three concerts in the Old Chapel just across the road and two talks in the lovely Pilgrim’s Room in the hotel. There will also be time to explore the stunning Sussex coastline and the South Downs, with maps for Alex Polizzi’s favourite walks available at the hotel. Duncan Grant’s murals at Berwick Church and the Towner Gallery at Eastbourne with its collection of works by Eric Ravilious are also within a short drive.

For further details, see The Kirker Music Festival at The Star, Alfriston | Kirker Holidays

What's included

• Three nights’ accommodation with breakfast
• Three dinners
• Three concerts and talks as described with programme notes
• The services of the Kirker Tour Leader

Music Programme

Concerts are given in The Old Chapel a few steps across from the hotel. Much careful restoration work has been done in recent years and the chapel is now an attractive and welcoming venue. The wooden interior and floor ensure there is a fine acoustic for chamber music.

11 November:
Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F minor, Op.80 No.27
Smetana: String Quartet No.1in E minor ‘From My Life’
Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte
American composer Caroline Shaw was born in 1982 and won Pullitzer for Music in 2013.
A Haydn Quartet will be also be included in this concert.

12 November:
Beethoven: String Quartet in B flat major, Op.130
The Sacconi Quartet will include a performance of the Grosse Fugue in B flat major, Op.133. Beethoven composed this quartet to include the Grosse Fugue as an integral part of the piece although it is sometimes not included or indeed played separately. Here, the Sacconi Quartet will play the piece as Beethoven intended.

Roxana Panufnik: Heartfelt
Roxana Panufnik was born in 1998 and is one of Britain’s favourite contemporary composers. Her music was included in the Coronation of King Charles. Heartfelt was commissioned and played by the Sacconi Quartet in 2020.

13 November:
Brahms: String Quintet in G major Op111
Ravel: String Quartet

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