The Whitehaven News, Sonia Veneziani-Rocha

More than 100 people gathered for an evening of classical music at Cumbria’s first-ever Classical by the Castle concert.

“The Wihan Quartet, described as “one of the world’s finest chamber ensembles” by BBC Music Magazine, performed at Muncaster Castle last week in a special concert that opened the new series.”

Held in the castle’s drawing room, the event marked the launch of Classical by the Castle, part of the Muncaster Fringe festival.

Joshua Payne, one of the producers of The Muncaster Fringe, said: “it was fantastic to welcome The Wihan Quartet to Muncaster.

“Being able to enjoy the work of incredibly talented musicians, who have performed across the world, here in West Cumbria is part of what makes The Muncaster Fringe so special.

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The Czech quartet has earned international acclaim, having won first prize and the audience prize at the London International String Quartet Competition, as well as awards at the Prague Spring Festival and Osaka Chamber Festa.

Their programme included Josef Suk’s Meditation on an Old Czech Hymn ‘St Wenceslas,’ Bedřich Smetana’s Quartet No. 1 in E minor ‘From My Life,’ and Antonín Dvořák’s Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major, Op. 51 ‘Slavonic.’

The evening celebrated Czech classical music, blending influences from Slavic tradition and folk culture.

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Photo credit: Muncaster Castle and Carlos Reina