Classical Vauxhall 2022

Classical Vauxhall blows warmly through the music world in the depth of winter, with friendly concerts, appealing artists and bright programmes.

The five-concert long weekend of instrumental music and song features established performers and newer names, and the list of composers runs from Vivaldi to Verdi, from Brahms to Britten.

All five events are at the attractive church of St Mark's in Kennington Road, and are themed. Opening the festival is Love and Loss, with music for violin, horn and piano (Thurs 10 Feb, 7:30PM). Pianist Fiachra Garvey is also co-founder and artistic director of Classical Vauxhall.

Beautiful Brahms is the theme of the second concert, featuring cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and pianist Alexei Grynyuk. The duo play four ravishing pieces by the great romantic composer, including movements from cello sonatas and four 'songs' for cello (Fri 11 Feb, 7:30PM).

There are two concerts on the Saturday. At 6PM in Glimpses of Light, the Amatis Trio plays music for violin, cello and piano by Schubert, Shostakovich and the contemporary Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi. Her 2018 piece is evocatively entitled Moorlands (Sat 12 Feb, 6PM).

Pianist Fiachra Garvey returns for the later concert, when he is joined by the phenomenal counter-tenor Kangmin Justin Kim in the mischievously titled concert The Royal Opera House is Burning: Late Night Drag. The first counter-tenor to appear as Cherubino in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at the Royal Opera House, in 2019, 'Kimchilia Bartoli' performs roles usually sung by female voices, including the Habañera from Bizet's Carmen, Purcell's 'When I am Laid in Earth', 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Misérables, and 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from Evita (Sat 12 Feb, 9:30PM). Expect some very glamorous gowns...

The grand finale is star soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn's recital, with pianist Simon Lepper. They perform the Willow Song and 'Ave Maria' from Verdi's Otello, plus operatic arias by Verdi, Puccini, Britten and others in a gorgeous afternoon programme (Sun 13 Feb, 3PM). Llewellyn was sensational in the title role of Verdi's Luisa Miller at English National Opera in 2020. She appears as Desdemona in Otello at Grange Park Opera this summer.

Classical Vauxhall has a firm place in the capital's musical year, but also breaks the mould with its artists, programmes and younger audiences. Be sure to join them this year.