Four days of music, history and natural beauty.
St Mary's Church
Stoke D'Abernon
KT11 3PX
www.surreybachfest.com
Information
The Surrey Bach Festival is a brand-new classical music festival, held over four days in July at St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon.
Tickets
Visit our What’s On page to find our more about our concerts and events. Tickets can all be purchased in advance at Ticketsource, or with more limited availability on the door. Book ahead to avoid disappointment, as our events may sell out!
Travel
Getting to St Mary’s is comfortable, with many travel options available.By train:
Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon is the closest train station to St Mary’s, situated on the line between Guildford and London Waterloo. Trains run every half an hour, and the church is a 15 minute walk from the station with taxis also available.By car:
There is plenty of parking available at the church, which is situated in the grounds of Parkside School. We are situated on Stoke Road, just to the east of the centre of Stoke D’Abernon, directly opposite Squires Garden Centre.
St Mary’s Church at Stoke D’Abernon
St Mary’s Church is a fascinating patchwork building that tells the story of centuries of British history. We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate some beautiful early music in its historical walls!The church was originally built in the 7th century by Anglo-Saxons. Many churches like this were built in the area after the Gregorian mission from Rome introduced Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons in the late 6th century.Countless people from different cultures, countries and time periods have left their mark on St Mary’s Church in the centuries it’s stood in Stoke D’Abernon. Look out for these little quirks and treasures when you visit — each of them tells a story.Architecture
- Bricks, tiles and worked stones from Roman buildings that were reused to build the Anglo-Saxon church. These can be easily seen among the large field flints of the exterior walls of the church.
- The high-level doorway to the thegn’s gallery, visible in the south wall of the church. St Mary's Church was built on private land by a feudal lord and is the earliest English example of a church with a thegn’s gallery.
- The present square-ended chancel, which replaced the rounded Saxon apse in 1240. The axis of the chancel was likely aligned to the sunrise.
- A surviving section of a gorgeous 13th century mural painting of the Adoration of the Lamb on the east wall.Objects
- An 16 rank organ designed and voiced for the church in 1975 by the legendary Frobenius of Copenhagen.
- A stone Roman cinerary coffret from the 2nd century AD — the oldest artefact in the church.
- A 17th century heptagonal walnut pulpit supported by seven part-animal, part-human caryatids. The words “Faith comes from what is heard” (Romans 10:17) are gilded into a column so they can only be read by the priest.
- The monumental brass of Sir John the Elder — one of the finest brasses in existence.You can read an even more in-depth description of St Mary’s Church and its historical characteristics on the church website.
Things to do in the area
St Mary’s Church is in a great location for nature fans. We’ve listed eight popular nearby walks with travel times, facilities, accessibility, and other important information.We also recommend Surrey Walks - a wonderful blog dedicated to sharing the best routes and trails for exploring Surrey on foot.
Oxshott Heath
National Forest | 9 minutes drive
Facilities: Free parking.
Accessibility: No toilets. Wheel-accessible by paths.
Other information: Try the popular 6.1km loop trail from The Old Plough, a 300 year old courthouse turned pub, to Oxshott Heath. The route heads out on the footpaths alongside Knowle Hill Park and Littleheath Common Ponds to Oxshott Heath, a beautiful woodland, heath and common.
Claremont Landscape Gardens
10 minutes drive
Facilities: Free parking (opens 10am). Additional car park can be found in West End Lane (not National Trust). Disabled parking available. Cafe open daily with indoor and outdoor seating.
Accessibility: Adapted toilet with ramp access in car park. All-terrain wheelchair available to hire. Accessible path around the perimeter of the lake, and many benches.
Bookham Commons
Nature reserve | 14 minutes drive
Facilities: Paid parking (free for National Trust members) at Tunnel car park. Free parking at Mark Oak Gate. Free parking at Hundred Pound Bridge.
Accessibility: No toilets. Access for mobility vehicles and wheelchairs to the bird hide at the upper eastern pond. All-weather surfaced bridle paths. Benches.
Other information: Well-controlled dogs are welcome. Please keep them on leads where livestock are grazing.
Box Hill Stepping Stones
Tourist attraction | 16 minutes drive
Facilities: Parking, shop.
Accessibility: Challenging for people with reduced mobility. There is a steep descent from the top of Box Hill down to the River Mole with 275 steps before the bottom. The pathways can get slippery when wet.
Other information: Dog friendly. Dogs should be kept on leads near livestock. 1 hour 30 mins trail.
Norbury Park
Nature reserve | 19 minutes drive
Facilities: Free parking at Fetcham car park, Young Street car park and Crabtree car park. Picnic area.
Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
Other information: Dogs permitted under effective control (grazing cattle).
what’s on: 2024
COME AND SING: Vivaldi + Bach
Saturday 13th July | 10:00am - 7:00pm
Join conductor Matthew Brown for a day of working on Vivaldi’s timeless GLORIA and Bach’s beautiful JESU MEINE FREUDE. Workshops in the morning and afternoon will conclude with an exciting showcase performance in the beautiful St Mary’s Church.
YOUNG ARTIST SHOWCASE
Friday 12th July | 1:00pm
St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon
Lunchtime Showcase Concert
Students from YEHUDI MENUHIN SCHOOL
Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47: “Kreutzer”
A selection of other works by various composers
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Bach: MOTETS
Thursday 11th July | 7:30pm
St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon
The Queenes Chappell, one of the UK’s premier solo-voice choirs specialising in historical repertoire, performs an exciting programme of choral music by J.S. Bach and one of his most highly regarded predecessors; Heinrich Schütz.Bach’s choral music stands as some of his best-known and loved compositions, with intricate vocal lines weaving around each other in a dense texture. Performed one-to-a-part, this will be an exciting and moving evening.
BACH: Motets
The Queenes Chappell
Lobet den Herrn, BWV 230
An den Wassern zu Babel, SWV 37
Singet dem Herrn, BWV 225
Interval
Viel werden kommen, SWV 375
Die mit tränen säen, SWV 378
Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, SWV 380
Jesu meine Freude, BWV 227
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Heinrich Schütz (1585 - 1672)
Johann Sebastian Bach
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Heinrich Schütz
Johann Sebastian Bach
Artist Biography
THE QUEENES CHAPPELL
The Queenes Chappell is a young, versatile vocal consort committed to the performance of 16th, 17th and 18th century repertoire in a bold, vivid, and historically informed style. Founded in 2022 by Artistic Director Matthew Brown, the group has presented concerts across London and beyond, and is fast establishing itself as a fresh and exciting interpreter of Renaissance and Baroque repertoire.The group is now resident at St Mary’s Church, Stoke d’Abernon, a historic church with a long and rich history of historical performance. Previously, The Queenes Chappell were engaged as Artists-in-Residence at St Mary-le-Strand in central London, and have appeared in the Italian Sounds in London and Baroquestock festivals.Its members are drawn from London’s best solo and consort singers, who sing with other premiere ensembles such as the Monteverdi Choir, Gabrieli Consort, Tenebrae, and The Sixteen.
VENUS + ADONIS:
John Blow
Friday 12th July | 7:00pm
St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon
Istante Opera, a new fringe opera company resident at Baroquestock Festival in North London, present a new and exciting production of John Blow’s Restoration opera Venus and Adonis, alongside Jean-Baptiste Lully’s ballet La Naissance de Venús.Promising beautiful music on a grand scale, with high-level soloists, orchestra and chorus, a night of spectacle, excitement, and hummable tunes is in store.
VENUS AND ADONIS
Istante Collective, The Queenes Chappell; Ana Beard Fernandez, Jack Holton, Mariana Rodrigues, cond. Matthew Brown
Ballet Royal de la Naissance de Vénus, LWV 27
Interval
Venus and Adonis
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632 - 1687)
John Blow (1649 - 1708)
Artist Biography
ISTANTE COLLECTIVE
Istante is a versatile musical collective committed to reaching out to new audiences through innovative concert experiences. Istante’s performances, often held in an informal setting, aim to inspire the listener by linking repertoire through historical and narrative threads.Individually, Istante’s members perform with prestigious orchestras and ensembles including Royal Opera House Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, La Scala orchestra, English Baroque Soloists/Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, King’s Consort. By combining their diverse experience, they are able to offer a unique breadth of repertoire, both in terms of style and historical period.Istante has performed in a range of venues in the UK and abroad, including the St Stephen's Festival of the Arts in London, the Newbury Festival and Classica Aurora series in Arezzo (Italy), and was selected for the 2017-2018 BREMF Live! Scheme. The ensemble counts a number of collaborations with Opera Vera, performing original arrangements of La Boheme, Gianni Schicchi, and Mozart’s da Ponte trilogy.Istante is ensemble in residence at Baroquestock Festival, featuring a unique fusion of historical performance, folk music, community projects and home-cooked food. Baroquestock highlights include a fully staged production of J.Haydn’s rarely-heard opera “Lo Speziale”. The ensemble also play various concerts throughout the year, often as part of the church's lunchtime concert series.Istante’s debut album, ‘Little things in Odd Shapes’, featuring chamber music for mixed string/wind ensemble by Boccherini and M. Haydn, was released by Novantiqua Records in 2018.
COME AND SING DAY
Vivaldi and Bach
Saturday 13th July | 10:00am - 7:00pm
St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon
Reserve your place now for an exciting day of workshops on Vivaldi’s timeless GLORIA and Bach’s beautiful JESU MEINE FREUDE, with SBF’s Artistic Director Matthew Brown.Morning and afternoon workshops will culminate in a showcase performance in St Mary’s Church at 6:00pm. Limited places available, so book now to avoid disappointment!
STEVEN DEVINE, harpsichord
Sunday 14th July | 1:00pm
St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon
Internationally acclaimed harpsichordist Steven Devine, principal keyboard of the OAE, performs a lunchtime harpsichord recital.Featuring beautiful music by J.S. Bach and his contemporaries, including some well-known keyboard works, this contemplative lunchtime performance will be followed by refreshments and a chance to meet the artist.
Bach and his Influences
STEVEN DEVINE, harpsichord
Praeludium in G Minor, BuxWV 163
Toccata II
Partite “Auff die Maÿerin”
Prima Partita
Seconda Partita
Terza Partita
Quarta Partita
Quinta Partita
Sexta Partita - Crommatica
Courant sopra Maÿerin - Double
Saraband sopra Maÿerin
“French” Suite No. 4, BWV 815
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Gavotte
Menuet
Air
Gigue
Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 1637 - 1707)
Johann Jakob Froberger (1616 - 1667)
Johann Jakob Froberger
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Artist Biography
STEVEN DEVINE
Steven Devine combines a career as a conductor and director of orchestral, choral and opera repertoire with that of a solo harpsichordist and fortepianist. He is the Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The English Haydn Festival; Music Director of New Chamber Opera, Oxford and Director of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s “Bach the Universe & Everything” series.On the concert platform, he has directed Purcell, Blow, Bach, Handel and Mozart with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Bach Easter Oratorio with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Haydn, Handel, CPE Bach, JC Bach, Ditterdorf and Viotti with the English Haydn Orchestra; Handel, Vivaldi and Porpora Trondheim Barokk, Bach Christmas Oratorio with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble; Handel Solomon as well as JS and CPE Bach programmes with Victoria Baroque Players, British Columbia, Handel Belshazzar at the Valetta Festival and Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks with Arion Baroque Ensemble, Montreal.He has also directed programmes with the Academy of Ancient Music, Academie d’Ambronay, the Mozart Festival Orchestra and St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra.
SURREY BACH
FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Sunday 14th July | 7:30pm
St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon
Principal keyboardist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and renowned harpsichordist and director Steven Devine conducts the inaugural concert of the Surrey Bach Festival Orchestra.Featuring orchestral players who are members of many of the top period-instrument orchestras in the country including the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Concert and more, this will be a vivid and resplendent evening of orchestral works by J.S. Bach and his contemporaries.
Bach at the Collegium
Surrey Bach Festival Orchestra, conductor Steven Devine
Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6 No. 4
Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052
Interval
Overture Suite in B Minor, TWV 55:b2
Orchestral Suite No. 4, BWV 1069r
Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Artist Biography
STEVEN DEVINE, conductor
Steven Devine combines a career as a conductor and director of orchestral, choral and opera repertoire with that of a solo harpsichordist and fortepianist. He is the Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The English Haydn Festival; Music Director of New Chamber Opera, Oxford and Director of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s “Bach the Universe & Everything” series.On the concert platform, he has directed Purcell, Blow, Bach, Handel and Mozart with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Bach Easter Oratorio with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Haydn, Handel, CPE Bach, JC Bach, Ditterdorf and Viotti with the English Haydn Orchestra; Handel, Vivaldi and Porpora Trondheim Barokk, Bach Christmas Oratorio with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble; Handel Solomon as well as JS and CPE Bach programmes with Victoria Baroque Players, British Columbia, Handel Belshazzar at the Valetta Festival and Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks with Arion Baroque Ensemble, Montreal.He has also directed programmes with the Academy of Ancient Music, Academie d’Ambronay, the Mozart Festival Orchestra and St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra.
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Donate or Become a Funder
We're enormously grateful for the funding we've received so far - but we're still in need of donations. Whether you can donate £10 or £1,000, you'll be helping to launch a new celebration of music and community.
Volunteering
Need volunteering experience, looking for something fun to do this summer, or have time to help with a local arts event? We'd love to have your help! Your duties could involve things like delivering flyers, sticking up posters, helping set up the festival, serving drinks, or helping to clean up.
If you are able to help Surrey Bach Festival in any way, please don't hesitate to get in contact using the form on our Contact Page.