The Paxos Music Festival 2014

Paxos is a beautiful unspoilt  island just to the South of Corfu. The island is just seven miles long and two miles wide and is the smallest island in the Ionian Sea. You can only get to Paxos by boat, meaning the tourist numbers (out of season) are much lower than on the other more accessible Ionian islands.

There are three main coastal villages on Paxos: Loggos, Lakka and Gaiosthe Quaint and welcoming tavernas in the villages and on Paxos’ beaches start to fill with holidaymakers as the tourists pour off the boats in high season.

Another reason for an influx of people to this paradisical Greek island, is the Paxos Music Festival where internationally-renowned artists perform within the delightful ambience of this magical hidden Ionian island.

The Paxos Music Festival was established over quarter of a century ago by an Englishman called John Gough. Gough was a keen musician and resident of Paxos. He died in 2006 but the legacy of this Englishman who fell in love with Paxos, lives on. Putting something of his heart and soul back into the island this internationally-acclaimed music festival thrives and prospers with each passing year.

The original core of the festival was chamber music, the kind of artists that you can regularly see in London at St Martins-in-the-Field. As John Gough was himself a Londoner it is highly probable that the early festival idea, bore the music of St Martins closely in mind. From the festival’s founding concept, the ‘Ergin Ensemble’ arose to become the finest musical ensemble in Greece.

The Paxos Music Festival 2014 will take place from August 29 to September 6.

Known for her “ravishingly burnished voice”, British opera singer Rebecca Affonwy Jones will be performing at this year’s festival. The opera press have associated the singer with having “wide eyed eroticism”. She might have got in trouble with the witch finder general 400 years ago for possessing such qualities but today we can enjoy Miss Affonwy Jones’ natural Mezzo-Soprano voice on tranquil Paxos.

Song accompanist, vocal coach and repetiteur Alice Turner will play piano accompaniment on Paxos this summer. Alongside Michael Brownlee Walker, Alice is also the festival’s new artistic director. As a repetiteur Ms Turner has worked for the English National Opera and the Longborough Festival Opera.

As well as sitting back and watching some of the best classical music artists perform within emerald olive-coated surroundings, there is a real sense of teaching music at the Paxos Festival. Music workshops are run for the benefit of the children by highly qualified teachers. If you are on Paxos with your children at the end of August this year it might be a good idea to try to enrol them on a  music workshop course where you could guarantee your children are being taught by the very best.

The village of Loggos plays host to the festival and it is in the village’s school room where most of the action takes place. Being enclosed by ancient tracks leading to secluded beaches framed with jagged cliffs and mile upon mile of olive groves, there could not be a more apt setting to hold a  festival that typifies the powerful serenity of classical music.

The final word goes to TV presenter Mariella Frostrup who loves the island of Paxos… “For authenticity, delicious cuisine and the friendliest of welcomes, we’ve found few better places on earth.”

For more information on the Paxos Music Festival 2014, visit the official website.

You may also be interested in viewing Vintage Travel’s collection of luxury villas in Paxos, which you can find HERE.