Events

The festival that celebrates science and the arts, founded and directed by violinist Jack Liebeck and particle physicist Professor Brian Foster.

2.00-3.15 pm
Concert 6 –  Goldberg

J.S. Bach ‘Goldberg’ Variations BWV 988

Danny Driver, piano

Arguably the most towering work for solo keyboard, certainly in the Baroque, is played for us by an old friend of the Festival, Danny Driver. This is the first keyboard performance of this seminal work at the Festival; a few years ago we had the arrangement for string trio by Dimitry Sitkovetsky. The original keyboard version is however, incomparable.

4.00-5.00 pm
From Cues to Cravings: Understanding the complex neurobiology of addiction.
Dr Lauren Burgeno, University of Oxford

Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder which is characterised by uncontrollable drug use despite the known harmful consequences. What makes some people more susceptible than others? How do neutral environmental cues become imbued with and maintain the power to produce cravings even after decades of abstinence? I will discuss recent research which answers these questions by investigating how individual differences in neural activity contribute to addiction-related behaviours.

6.00-8.30 pm
Concert 7 – Festival Finale

Mendelssohn String Sinfonia No. 1 in C major
Spohr Nonet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass in F major, Op. 31
Interval
Beethoven String Quintet in C major, Op. 29

C. Saluste-Bridoux, violin
J. Liebeck, violin
B. Roskams, viola
S. Oswell, viola
T. Carroll, cello
C. Miles, cello
S. Watton, double bass
D. Pailthorpe, flute
E. Pailthorpe, oboe
J. Bliss, clarinet
N. Korth, horn
G. Eckersley, bassoon

As usual, the finale crowds the stage with most of our Festival players. A nonet is pretty much the largest chamber grouping short of a string orchestra and we have a wonderful example from Spohr, known both for his violin virtuosity as well as his compositions. A very early work by Mendelssohn is indeed for string orchestra and, although young, he demonstrates astonishing musical talent. We conclude with a work new to the Festival, Beethoven’s only string quintet, often given the soubriquet “Storm” from its turbulent last movement. Transitional between his early and middle periods, it is a little known and fascinating work from the great master.