THE Purbeck Chamber Music Festival has become one of the highlights of the year for people who love music.

The audience was treated to a superb programme of music, curated by the Festival’s artistic director Natalie Clein, that included great masterpieces of the solo and chamber music repertoire by Elgar, Bach, Brahms and Mozart but also something a bit different by composers such as Schoenberg, Ligeti and Beamish.

The concerts were full to capacity, and in some cases spilled out – resulting in people listening to the magic of a Bach unaccompanied cello suite sitting in the soft early autumn sun at Durlston Park.

One of the most surprising performances was of overtone singing by Gareth Lubbe.

He ‘sings’ a myriad of harmonics while improvising on the viola, and asked the audience to imagine sound split up in the same way as light through a spectrum.

The intricate sounds he makes need to be heard to be believed! Another inspiring highlight was Natalie’s masterclass for three talented young Dorset cellists, and a group of younger cellists.

All four concerts took place in venues that were specially chosen for their light and space – and included Kingston and Langton’s beautiful stone churches and the dramatic setting of The Tank Museum, Bovington.

Next year’s Festival is already being planned for September 4 to 6.

CHARLOTTE HEATH