Thaxted Festival Launch with Aquarelle Guitar Quartet

The launch of our 2026 summer season will take place on 22 February in Thaxted Parish Church at 3pm.

After Craig Ogden’s success this summer when he performed with the London Tango Quintet, he was the perfect choice to launch our 2026 season with the dynamic and innovative guitar quartet Aquarelle. Expect extraordinary performances and an expansive repertoire. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear their arrangements of music from various genres and works from major international composers. Our new Artistic Director, Christopher Weston has been curating our 40th anniversary Festival season and he and our Chair, Peter Donovan look forward to talking through the highlights with you during the afternoon (General booking opens on 16 March).

Join us for drinks and nibbles and enjoy the suitably warming music from Aquarelle to get us into the summer spirit!

Ryedale Festival, Yorkshire with Aquarelle Guitar Quartet

An event unique to the Ryedale Festival, the Triple Concert features three contrasting concerts in different areas of the stunning country house Castle Howard. Each concert is presented three times, with the audiences rotating after each performance.

New Paths Music Festival, Beverley, Yorkshire

Craig Ogden (guitar) | Ashley Riches (bass-baritone) | Fiona Colville (flute) | Libby Burgess (piano)

Borne: Carmen Fantasy | Tárrega: Capricho árabe | Rodrigo: 3 Piezas Españolas | Shostakovich: Spanish Songs | Ravel: Don Quichotte à Dulcinée

A Spanish feast launches this year’s festival! Renowned guitarist Craig Ogden conjures up Iberian scenes from fandango to pensive passacaglia in music by Rodrigo – best known for his Concierto de Aranjuez, but here in intimate mode.

Meanwhile celebrated bass-baritone Ashley Riches paints Spain through the lens of two composers whose anniversaries fall this year: Shostakovich in folksong, and Ravel in irreverent settings of the Don Quixote tale, from romance to drinking song. Bizet’s much-loved Spanish melodies from the opera Carmen are reworked into flute fireworks to kickstart the festival. Mucho gusto!

 

Nelson Guitar Festival, New Zealand

Craig’s debut visit to New Zealand at NCMA’s classical guitar Summer School in Nelson.

He will be giving a recital, masterclasses, conducting the guitar orchestra and an ensemble and taking part in all the festival activities.

Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art, Dorset

Chamber Concert

David Juritz, Fiona McCapra violins
Rachel Byrt viola
Adrian Bradbury cello
Craig Ogden guitar
Veronika Shoot piano

 

Vladislav Shoot Magic Flight
Franz Schubert Arpeggione Sonata in A minor D. 821
Peter Hope A Dorset Calendar
Gabriel Fauré Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor Op. 15

 

Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art, Dorset

Late Night Recital

Craig Ogden guitar
Adrian Bradbury cello

Bach to Brazil
Heitor Villa-Lobos Cinq Preludes, written for the great Spanish guitarist Segovia, quickly became a central part of any guitarist’s repertoire. Adrian Bradbury plays Bach’s Cello Suite No.5 in C major

Burton Bradstock, Dorset with David Jurtiz (violin) and Adrian Bradbury (cello)

Burton Bradstock Festival Spring Concert

Music for guitar, violin and cello by Bach, Fauré, Villa-Lobos and Paganini

J S Bach Sinfonias BWV 787 – 801
Arranged for violin, guitar and cello
Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras
Iannis Xenakis Dhipli Zyia
Gabriel Fauré Sicilienne and Après un rêve
Poldowski Tango
Nicolò Paganini Terzetto in D major

Stroud Subs Rooms

Stroud Arts Festival, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

An exciting programme of some of the finest virtuoso guitar pieces, familiar favourites and wonderful new discoveries from the classical guitar repertoire. Craig never fails to amaze with his remarkable skill and mesmerising performances. This is a great opportunity to hear him before he plays with the exceptional London Tango Quintet in advance of the evening concert.