The Waltham Forest Cello Fest is a cello festival based in the

London Borough of Waltham Forest The London Borough of Waltham Forest () is a London borough in north-east London, England. Its population is estimated to be 276,983 in 2019. It borders five other London boroughs: Enfield to the north-west, Haringey to the west, Hackney to th ...

, north-east London.

History

Festival was created in 2019 as a cello celebration of the communities in Waltham Forest the first ever Mayor's London Borough of Culture. The WFCF was supported by Make It Happen - London Borough of Waltham Forest.

2019

The 1st Waltham Forest Cello Fest commemorated the 334th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, the 327th anniversary of the birth if Italian baroque composer Giuseppe Tartini, the 200th anniversary of the birth of German - French composer and cellist Jacques Offenbach, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jewish composer Gideon Klein - Gideon Klein Centenary, the 100th anniversary of the birth of American Jazz Cellist

Fred Katz Frederick Carl Katz (21 May 1877 – 13 December 1960) was an Australian trade unionist and politician. He had a long association with the Australian labour movement, holding senior leadership positions with the Federated Clerks' Union, Feder ...

- Fred Katz Centenary, the 60th anniversary of the death of Swiss-born American composer

Ernest Bloch Ernest Bloch (July 24, 1880 – July 15, 1959) was a Swiss-born American composer. Bloch was a preeminent artist in his day, and left a lasting legacy. He is recognized as one of the greatest Swiss composers in history. As well as producing music ...

and London's first ever Borough of Culture in 2019!

2020

The 2nd Waltham Forest Cello Fest scheduled many cello events to commemorate the 335th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, the 250th anniversary of the death of Italian baroque composer Giuseppe Tartini, the 175th anniversary of the birth of French composer Gabriel Fauré, the 140th anniversary of the birth of Swiss - American composer Ernest Bloch, the 140th anniversary of the death of French - German composer Jacques Offenbach, the 140th anniversary of the birth of Jewish composer James Simon, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Armenian composer Alexander Arutjunjan, Make Music Day 2020 and St David's Day.

2021

The 3rd Waltham Forest Cello fest in London was held mainly online, featuring WFCF Cello Concerts, Underground Lunchtime Recitals (in the historic Victoria Line carriage), Cello Weekend, Make Music Day and Cello Academy. In 2021 festival commemorated the 121st anniversary of the birth of Jiří Weil (1900 - 1959), 211th anniversary of the birth of poet Karel Hynek Mácha (1810 - 1836) and the 336th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach. The WFCF 2021 featured cellists and young promising cello talents from Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Italy, the UK and the USA.

Artists

Musicians who have appeared include cellists Anna Brikciusová, František Brikcius, Yiqi Chen, Mira Kardan, Stijn Kuppens,

Anna Shuttleworth Anna Shuttleworth (2 May 1927 – 2 March 2021Anna Shuttleworth (2n ...

(1927-2021), Duo Brikcius and George Wolfe-McGuire. Together with cellist, Cello Museum founder and curator Brenda Neece, cellist, researcher and guest curator Erica Lessie, conductor and composer Peter Askim, percussionist Brecht Claesen, violinist and philosopher Hugh Desmond, organist and composer

Irena Kosíková Irena Kosíková is a Czech organist and composer. Irena Kosíková was born in Prague the daughter of the banned philosopher Karel Kosík and the literary historian Růžena Grebeníčková. She began her organ studies with Prof. Jan Hora, tog ...

, violinist and conductor Jan Talich, Talich Chamber Orchestra, soprano Nofar Yacobi and narrator Jan Židlický.

Venues

Concerts were held in The London Borough of Waltham Forest Download2018 338

* the Engine House -

Walthamstow Wetlands Walthamstow Wetlands is a nature reserve in Walthamstow, east London, adjacent to the historic Essex-Middlesex border on the River Lea. It is focused on the Walthamstow Reservoirs, built by the East London Waterworks Company between 1853 and ...

* historic Victoria Line Carriage - Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum * One Hoe Street in Walthamstow * Church of St John the Baptist in Leytonstone * Church of St Michael and All Angels in

Walthamstow Walthamstow ( or ) is a large town in East London, east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London and the Historic counties of England, ancient county of Essex. Situated northeast of Chari ...

* the Parish Church of Ss Peter and Paul in Chingford * and online.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website

Borough of Culture: Cello Fest Two Siblings

London Cello Society: The 3rd WALTHAM FOREST CELLO FEST 2021 in London

BCSA: the 7th Underground Lunchtime Recital

Czech Centre London: František Brikcius, Anna Brikciusová and Irena Kosíková at Waltham Forest Cello Fest

The Strad: Waltham Forest Cello Fest 2021
Classical music festivals in England Music festivals in London Music festivals established in 2019