Classical Concert at the Swiss Gardens
Last night we were very privileged to return to give another open air concert in the Swiss Gardens in Bedfordshire. Although we play for quite a few weddings in the Swiss Gardens, we particularly look forward to giving these evening recitals as the audiences are always really lovely and it’s wonderful to be playing in such beautiful surroundings.
For anyone who hasn’t visited, the Swiss Gardens are a series of private, late regency gardens in Bedfordshire, created in the early 19th century by Lord Ongley - and they have been carefully restored to create a magical and atmospheric location, complete with ponds, a grotto and a fernery, little bridges and wandering peacocks (more on the peacocks later).
The concert was performed by a small thatched cottage on top of the hill in the centre of the gardens, with the audience seated on the grass below, eating their picnics and sipping wine as we played. With the natural acoustic of the area, the music is able to drift down across the gardens and be heard for quite a distance. We kept the programme generally quite popular with some well loved classical pieces, but also slipped in a few lesser known works to keep it interesting.
We had been attentively watching the weather forecast for the previous few days, hoping for a glorious, warm summers evening - and luckily the rain held off for most of the concert - apart from about ten minutes near the end when British stoicism came to the fore and the audience got out their umbrellas and continued to enjoy the music - with three concert goers jiggling their brollies up and down in time with a particularly lively piece by Holst.
One memorable and noteworthy addition to our playing was the chorus of shrieks from the gardens resident peacocks who spent the first half patrolling the picnic area, and then after the interval hopped up to roost in the tree above where we were playing. With unerring comic timing, they would add a loud shriek at the end of most pieces of music, or join in with a series of calls every time the audience applauded - and this was a source of much amusement to everyone.
Rain cleared up for the end of the concert and we were approached by a few audience members who trudged up the hill to come and talk to us. One gentleman said it was the first classical music concert he’d been to and was surprised and pleased at how much he’d enjoyed it and others just said how lovely it had been to sit out on a (mostly fine) summers evening and enjoy the music while they ate their picnics.
All of us were delighted to play at the gardens and it’s always especially rewarding to give concerts that are so visibly enjoyed by an audience - we very much hope to go back.
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