Corsican ensemble, Spartimu – Residential weekend and UK tour - ALL DATES

Coming to tour the UK during October 2025, Spartimu are an internationally renowned Corsican group, dedicated to teaching and performing ‘cantu in paghjella’ – the UNESCO listed distinctive, highly ornamented and improvisational traditional polyphony of Corsica.

As well as concerts this UK tour will feature workshops both of larger ensemble songs and of paghjellas. So whatever your level of knowledge and experience as a singer, there will be something here for you.

Whilst deeply rooted in their research and practice of Corsican songs, the Spartimu’s projects also take in the repertoires of several other countries. The encounters they create between music, repertoires and practices that are at first glance very distant have become a trademark of the ensemble, and give an ever changing and endlessly interesting and surprising experience for their audience.

The ensemble has performed in Sardinia, Lithuania, Georgia, Chicago and Melbourne (Australia), and been recorded and documented by the US Library of Congress, as well as providing original music for the recent Ridley Scott film, Napoleon, and being featured in an upcoming episode of the BBC TV series Great Railway Journeys.

'I have been so fortunate to work with Frederic Vesperini and Spartimu for several years and can not recommend them highly enough.'

Karla Mundy, Director, SongRoots, Vancouver BC

'Spartimu bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to their encounters with audiences and workshop participants as they take them on a fascinating journey into Corsica's captivating musical heritage.'

Prof. Caroline Bithell, Professor of Ethnomusicology, University of Manchester

'A real sense of culture and place.'

'This was a very special night. Absolutely beautiful music. Those notes were ringing.'

'An awesome evening of entertainment. Not to be missed!'

Audience members, Melbourne, Australia

Tour dates and Ticket links
Links to details and ticket pages for all tour dates will be added here as each is confirmed.

Thursday 16
London Workshop + Concert (TBC)

Friday 17- Sunday 19
Milton Abbey, Dorset Residential with workshops + Concert (Book tickets on this page)

Sunday 19
Ashburton Concert

Monday 20
Stroud Workshop (Tickets here)

Tuesday 21
Bristol Concert (Tickets here)

Wednesday 22
Oxford Workshop + Concert (Tickets here)

Thursday 23
Manchester Workshop + Concert

Friday 24
Lancaster Workshop + Concert

Saturday 25
Musicport Festival, Whitby Concert (Festival tickets here)

Sunday 26
Glasgow Workshop + Concert (Tickets here)

Residential workshop weekend
The weekend is open to anyone who is interested to explore Corsican polyphony in greater depth. We will have a full weekend of workshops, including larger ensemble songs and cantu in paghjella, for which we will work in smaller groups, giving plenty of opportunity for individual tuition. Accommodation is available on site, or you can choose a non-residential option if you prefer.

Our venue will be the magnificent setting of Milton Abbey School in Dorset. If you choose to stay on site, accommodation will be in one of the comfortable and well appointed boarding houses. All meals will be provided in the grand, fifteenth century Abbots Hall, with workshops to be held in various state rooms within the historic school buildings.

On the Saturday evening we will enjoy a concert with Spartimu in the stunning abbey itself.

 Ticket prices 

We work hard to keep all of our events accessible to as many people as possible, while still adequately compensating our expert music leaders. To that end we are offering a range of options for participating in this workshop weekend, including residential passes, non residential passes, and Saturday passes. For each ticket there is a choice of three price bands, to suit your means. In choosing the appropriate price band, we suggest the following guide:

Supporter: If you can comfortably afford to pay your bills, and more than one or two main holidays each year, please consider paying the supporter rate, which will help us to offer lower cost tickets to those who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Standard: If you can pay all your bills, but don't have a lot of disposable income for discretionary spend, the standard ticket price may be right for you.

Concessionary: For anyone on a low income, in receipt of income based benefits, or who would struggle to pay the standard rate.

£325/275/225 Weekend, boarding (two nights accommodation, workshops, three meals each day, concert)
£235/185/135 Weekend, non boarding (workshops, lunch and dinner each day, concert)
£125/105/85 Saturday (workshops, lunch and dinner, concert)
£25/20/15 Concert (Saturday evening concert only)

As always, if you are keen to attend but cost is a barrier for you, please contact us directly to discuss options.

Timings

Friday
Dinner 18.00-19.00. Workshop 19.30-21.30.
If you are boarding you can arrive any time from 16.30, and check in to your accommodation from around 20.30

Saturday
Breakfast 8.30-9.30. Workshops 10.00-17.00, with break for lunch.
Dinner 18.00-19.00. Concert 19.30-21.30. (Doors open 19.00)

Sunday
Breakfast 8.30-9.30. Workshops 10.00-15.30, with break for lunch.
If you are boarding check out is by 10.00. Departure is by 17.00

Further details

Accommodation
Accommodation will be in one of the on site boarding houses, with around 45 beds. Beds are arranged mainly in single rooms, with a small number in twin or triple rooms. (Indicate your preferences when booking). Each residential house is equipped with a small kitchen and a lounge area.

Catering
Boarding passes include all meals. Non boarding and day passes include lunch and evening meal. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and special dietary requirements can be catered for. Please specify when booking.

Getting there
Travel by public transport is of course encouraged. The nearest railway stations are at Dorchester (12 miles from the school), or Wareham (14 miles). There are direct trains from London to Wareham and Dorchester, or buses to Bournemouth. The local bus CR8 stops at Dorchester railway station, and runs to within 1.3 miles of the school. Collection from the bus stop may be possible. Please email us if you would like to arrange this.

If arriving by car there is plenty of car parking on site. Please consider car sharing if possible. If you can offer a space in your car or are looking for a lift, please feel free to post your lift offer or request on the Facebook event page.

Covid
If you have symptoms consistent with covid or any other respiratory illness, or have been in close contact with someone with covid shortly before the event, please take a LFT in the 24 hours before attending. Anyone showing a positive result should not attend.

Cancellation and refunds
In the unlikely event that the residential weekend is cancelled, an alternative date or a refund will be offered. Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds for any other reason. You may therefore wish to consider taking out Event Cancellation insurance cover, such as this. Or you may find that suitable cover is provided by your household or travel insurance, or by your credit card company.

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