As the evening light softens over the gardens of Dabton House, the festival’s opening recital will invite guests into a programme of rich emotional contrast and lyrical virtuosity.
Scottish violinist Iona McDonald, a distinguished graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, will bring a rare blend of poise and fire to a programme that journeys from Amy Beach’s shimmering romance to Sir James MacMillan’s earthy lyricism.
Friday 23rd May 2025, 7:30PM – Iona McDonald & Simon Callaghan – Prokofiev, Beach, MacMillan, Chausson
Her performance of Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata No. 2 is set to offer a fusion of technical brilliance and subtle wit. At the same time, Chausson’s Poème is expected to soar with its intoxicating blend of melancholy and rapture.
At the piano, Simon Callaghan — a musician as at home in the grand salons of Europe as in the intimacy of a chamber recital — will accompany McDonald. A frequent performer at Germany’s Festival of Piano Rarities, Callaghan is known for his gift for drawing fresh light from familiar repertoire, promising an unforgettable opening night.
Audiences are invited to enjoy an evening of refined drama, lyrical passion, and the thrill of witnessing two masterful artists in full flight, surrounded by the gentle grandeur of the Dumfriesshire countryside.
