As followers of UK classical music festivals will know, the Two Moors Festival has over the last few weeks been putting on concerts in the waiting room at Tiverton Parkway Station, with a capacity audience attending the final performance last week (October 10th). A stranger venue would be hard to find but the ticket cffice at the station has proved to be one of the finest concert halls in the area. And why? Because it has fabulous acoustics. Word has spread and the fact that dedicated music lovers are prepared to travel from Widecombe and Ottery St Mary says it all.
To round off the series of six events, professional harpist Elizabeth Scorah delighted her listeners with a specially designed programme that included a Bach suite, fitting exactly into the allotted time of 29 minutes between two morning trains. Two high-speeders rattled through in the middle of a minuet, passengers trundled their suitcases on to the platform, business at the coffee shop was brisk and the station continued to operate throughout as if nothing unusual was taking place. Dogs were lulled into a happy doze, toddlers were more than content having a cuddle with mum and the floor was so clean that it was quite normal for people (including the artistic director Penny Adie) to sit cross-legged on the tiles while enjoying the music.
A further bonus of the series has been the voluntary collection in aid of the Festival’s primary schools workshop programme whereby professional musicians entertain and introduce children to the joys of classical music. Like everything, the project costs money and the total amount of over £300 raised will go a long way to ensure the scheme can continue.
First Great Western and its staff are thrilled with the way in which the concerts have been received, have been so welcoming and word has it that they would like more. Is Christmas on the cards? A hearty sing of carols might beckon so keep a look out!
Would you like to come along to hear a Festival production at the station come Christmas? Let us know in the comments below!
And you can find out more about the Two Moors Festival over on our website.
Official Two Moors Festival Blog 