Spitsbergen and the Arctic Circle Music Themed Cruise

A remote and evocative archipelago, the islands of Norway’s Arctic north hold a unique allure for those with a sense of adventure. During the long midsummer days, Black Watch will cruise up the spectacular Norwegian coastline, past the Seven Sisters’ Mountain range, and the North Cape as far as the Arctic outpost of Spitsbergen. On board you will be joined throughout by the Sacconi Quartet, for a series of private recitals.

The name Sacconi Quartet comes from the outstanding 20th century Italian luthier and restorer Simone Sacconi, whose book The Secrets of Stradivari is considered an indispensable reference for violin makers. Since its formation at the Royal College of Music in 2001, the Quartet has established a secure and substantial reputation. They have enjoyed a highly successful international career, performing regularly throughout Europe, at London’s major venues, in recordings and in radio broadcasts. The Sacconi is ‘Quartet in Association’ at the Royal College of Music and Associate Artist at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre.

Itinerary
Liverpool, Leknes, Lofoten Islands, Tromso, Honningsvag (North Cape), Pyramiden,  Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Klaksvik, Torshavn, Faroe Islands , Liverpool

You sail from Liverpool and travel around the coast of Scotland, spending two days at sea before reaching the coastline of Norway. The tour then turns north and you can enjoy some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world,  including soaring mountain ranges and peaks, such as the Seven Sisters and Hat Mountain.

After crossing the Arctic Circle you will then call in at a trilogy of contrasting ports – Leknes on the Lofoten Islands, a string of picturesque islands linked by bridges and causeways; Tromso, known as the “Gateway to the Arctic” with its striking Arctic Cathedral and the most northern cultural outpost in Norway; and then Honningsvag on the North Cape itself.

But the real adventure begins after the North Cape, when you will sail to the glorious but chillingly remote Svalbard Islands. Here you will stop at Pyramiden and Longyearbyen, two evocative, curious and long-deserted Soviet mining towns. There will be magnificent views of the Tuna Glacier and the majestic Tempelfjorden.

Turning south, you shall stop at two ports on the Faroe Islands, an archipelago of 18 islands in total, many of which are linked by tunnels and bridges.

Music Programme 

27 June: Barry Cheeseman and Simon Rowland-Jones will introduce the musicians and talk about some of the music you will hear over the course of the cruise. The introduction will be followed by a drinks party in the Library and after this, you will have dinner in the Orchid Room.

28 June
11.00:  Gary Ryan (guitar) will play works by Bach, Dowland, Albeniz as well as some of his own compositions and arrangements of Irish folk music.

15.00: Simon Rowland-Jones and the Sacconi Quartet will explore the pinnacle of Haydn’s vast output of over sixty quartets; the six quartets from his op.76, four of which you will hear during the cruise, are considered to be his finest works.

18.30: Sacconi String Quartet
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Haydn: String Quartet in C Op.76 No. 3 ”Emperor”
Mozart: String Quintet in G minor K516

29 June
11.00: CD Choice No.1. Barry Cheeseman chats to members of the Sacconi Quartet and Gary Ryan about their lives in music and discover each musician’s favourite piece of music.

15.00 (Neptune Lounge)
Sacconi String Quartet
Gary Ryan, guitar
Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto in D RV93
Haydn: String Quartet in B flat Op.76 No. 4 “Sunrise”

18.30
Sacconi String Quartet
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Gary Ryan, guitar
Paganini: Trio in D for violin, cello and guitar
Piazzolla: L’histoire du Tango – 3 movements arranged for viola and guitar
Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in G minor Op.27

30 June
11.00: Simon Rowland-Jones and members of the Sacconi String quartet explore the moving piece by Joseph Suk, “Meditation”, as well as Debussy’s only string quartet.

18.30
Sacconi String Quartet
Haydn: String Quartet in D minor Op.76 No 2 “Fifths”
Suk: Meditation
Debussy: String Quartet in G minor Op.10

1 July
18.30
Sacconi String Quartet
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Gary Ryan, guitar
Boccherini: Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D “Fandango” G448
Walton: Five Bagatelles for solo guitar
Brahms: String Quintet in G Op.111

2 July
Tim Horton, piano
Mozart: Sonata in B flat K333
Grieg: Lyric Pieces – a selection
Schubert: Sonata in G D894

3 July
Sacconi String Quartet
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Barber: Dover Beach
Sibelius: String Quartet Voces Intimae
Gurney: The Western Playland

4 July
11.00: CD Choice No.2. Barry Cheeseman talks to Simon Rowland-Jones Gareth Brynmor John and Tim Horton

15.00: Tim Horton explores Liszt’s dazzlingly virtuosic B minor sonata, one of the greatest challenges a pianist of stature must face. Tim will be taking on this challenge on 6 July.

18.30
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Tim Horton, piano
Rebecca Clarke: Passacaglia
Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel
Ravel: Don Quichotte a Dulcinee
Bloch: Suite

5 July
19.45: Drinks Party in The Library

6 July
18.30: Tim Horton, piano
Chopin: Polonaise Fantasie op.61
Chopin: Three Mazurkas Op.56
Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A flat Op.47
Liszt: Sonata in B minor

7 July
11.00: Tim Horton and members of the Sacconi String Quartet explore the powerfully emotionally Piano Quintet by Cesar Frank in preparation for this evening’s performance.

18.30
Sacconi String Quartet
Tim Horton, piano
Dvorak: String Quartet in G Op.106
Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor Op.14

8 July
15.00 (Neptune Lounge)
Sacconi String Quartet
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Tim Horton, piano
Grieg: Air and Sarabande from the Holberg Suite arranged for cello and piano.
Vaughan Williams: Phantasy Quintet

18.30
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Tim Horton, piano
Schubert: Die Schone Mullerin

9 July
11.00
Tim Horton, piano
Schubert: Sonata in D D 850

15.00
Sacconi String Quartet
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Tim Horton, piano
Haydn: Duo in F for violin and viola
Bridge: Lament for two violas
Beethoven: String Quintet in C Op.29

10 July
18.30
Sacconi String Quartet
Simon Rowland-Jones, viola
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Mozart: String Quartet in G K 387
Rowland-Jones: Teach me through your Trees
Schmumann: Dichterliebe

11 July
11.00: Simon Rowland-Jones and members of the Sacconi String Quartet take a long look at what is the best-known string quartet of all – Schubert’s Death and the Maiden which will close the Music Festival at sea at the end of this evening’s concert.

18.00
Sacconi String Quartet
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Tim Horton, piano
At our Farewell Concert, Tim Horton will play a Beethoven sonata and Gareth Brynmor John will sing a selection of his favourite songs and arias. The concert ends with a performance of Schubert’s String Quartet in D minor D810 “Death and the Maiden.’