Part of the Roman River Festival 2025 - See all concerts here.

A series of three lunchtime recitals for this 25th Anniversary festival: our Artistic Director, Orlando Jopling, fizzes with creative energy as a conductor, collaborator, and, above all, a cellist. This festival, he gives us the cello in its purest form, played solo, bringing out the rich, resonant voice of the instrument.

Concert 3: Friday 26 September, 12 noon

St John's Church, Mount Bures, CO8 5AR 

The recital opens with J.S. Bach’s Suite No. 5 in C minor, a work of profound depth and introspection. Composed around 1720, this suite departs from the dance-like character of earlier suites, offering instead a darker, more meditative tone; the use of scordatura tuning enriches the cello’s resonance, lending a unique timbral quality to the suite’s intricate counterpoint. Giovanni Sollima’s Lamentatio follows—a striking, contemporary work that blends baroque influences, vocal intonation, and raw emotional expression. This Sicilian composer and cellist's influences are wide ranging, taking in jazz and rock, as well as various ethnic traditions from the Mediterranean area. Next, Benjamin Britten’s Third Cello Suite, composed in 1971 for Mstislav Rostropovich, reflects on Russian themes and Orthodox chant, weaving a tapestry of memory, loss, and reflection. The recital concludes with Song of the Birds, a Catalan folk melody famously arranged by Pablo Casals, offered here as a poignant expression of peace and hope.

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Another first! This beautiful Grade 1-listed Church building has been serving the Village since the 12th Century. The churchyard that surrounds it is set aside as a Conservation Area, carefully managed by an expert group of local people; part of the grassed area is left unmown during the summer and autumn months to allow certain flowers to thrive, including harebells; and the path to the Church is, unusually, of grass rather than paving. Behind the church, you can see Castle Mound, the mount or motte, which gives the village its name; a bailey associated with the motte was once situated to the south. Motte and bailey castles were introduced into Britain by the Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte, surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower, and acted as garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal administration. The castle at Mount Bures is believed to have been owned by the Sackvilles and built during the reign of either King Stephen or Henry I.

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PROGRAMME

Bach Suite no. 5 in C minor
Sollima Lamentatio
Britten Third Cello Suite
Casals Song of the Birds

Duration: approx. 1 hour
Orlando Jopling | cello

Planning: Doors open at 11.30, the concert begins at 12 noon. 

Parking: Parking is available on roads around the church. The landowner next door has kindly offered to open the gate to her field for parking - the gate to the field is just off the road leading up to the church (with the caveat she will check on the day and, if it's too soggy, she won't open the gate) so do allow ample time to find a space along the roadside if the weather has been wet.

The Thatchers Arms have also been generous enough to allow us to use their carpark too. This is a short walk down the road from the church. We have also arranged a fixed price lunch for our Roman River audience in this award-winning and cosy pub. They are prestige winners of Country Pub of the Year 2025 and one of three finalists of the 2025 National Pub and Bar Awards for County Pub of the Year, Essex.

A glass or wine and either 2 courses at £20.95 or 3 courses at £24.95 including 1 glass of house red or white wine - please call the pub on 01787 227460 or email info@thatchersarms.co.uk to book, quoting Roman River. 

Starters
Homemade Soup of The Day, sourdough bread (VG)
Prawn Cocktail, marie rose, baby gem, bread (GFA)
Pork Pie, piccalilli, cornichons
Caprese salad, tomato, buffalo mozzarella, olive oil, balsamic glaze (VG)(GF)
Garlic Mushrooms, toasted sourdough (VG)(GFA)

Mains
Bangers& Mash, seasonal vegetables, gravy
Breaded Chicken Burger, sweet potato fries (GFA)
Pizza, margarita or pepperoni
Scamp & Chips, tartare sauce, peas
Tomato & Olive Tart, new potatoes, seasonal vegetables, gravy (VG)(GF)

Desserts
Spotted Dick, crème anglaise
Warm Chocolate Brownie, vanilla ice cream
Nose of Cheese, crackers, chutney
Duo of ice cream

Tickets £15 - £20 (£10 for under 30s)

NOW PASSED:

Concert 1: Monday 22 September, 12 noon
Jaywick Martello Tower, CO15 2LF

Today's repertoire allows the cello as an instrument to shine - through the mathematics of Bach, the lively Corelli variations that contrast beautifully with Bach’s introspection, showcasing his agility and flair for drama, and the raw modern language of Britten. Each piece will reveal a different facet of the cello’s character, played with Orlando's superb command of style, tone, and emotion.

This is our first concert held in Jaywick Martello Tower, now a thriving heritage centre.

The tower was one of eleven such defences, based on the Mortella Tower at San Fiorenzo Bay in Corsica, originally constructed along the 13 mile stretch of Essex coastline known as the Clacton Beach to defend the country from attacks from Napoleon Bonaparte and his armies. The line of towers, identified by the letters A to K, ran from Stone Point on the north bank of the Colne Estuary northwards to Walton on the Naze - with the large circular redoubt at Harwich punctuating the northern end. In addition to tower D, six towers now remain standing at Stone Point (A), Jaywick (C), Clacton Beach (D), Clacton Wash (E), central Clacton (F) and Walton Mere (K). Visitors can explore the history of the tower through an exhibition hosted on the ground floor, as well as getting up close to a replica cannon, and enjoying wonderful views across the sea from the roof.

The Jaywick Martello Tower Coastal Open Exhibition will be on display so do arrive in time or linger aftwards to take a look at this annual art exhibition by local artists and craft makers, featuring paintings, pottery, poetry, and other art forms.

PROGRAMME
Bach Suite no. 2 in D minor
Corelli Sonata La Follia Op 1 no. 12
Britten First Cello Suite

Duration: approx. 1 hour
Orlando Jopling | cello

Tickets £15 - £20 (£10 for under 30s)

Planning: Doors open at 11.30, the concert begins at 12 noon. The Tower's own cafe will be open, serving teas and coffees, but no wine.
There is ample parking around the tower.
Your concert ticket also gives you entry to the Martello Tower; you are welcome to linger afterwards to look at the permanent exhibition.

For lunch afterwards, a nearby option is the lovely The Dukes Bistro in St Osyth with a deli or a proper lunch menu: www.dukesbistro.com
To email or call to book a table: info@dukesbistro.com or 01255 821191

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Concert 2: Wednesday 24 September, 12 noon
St Osyth Priory Chapel, St Osyth Priory, West Field Lane, CO16 8GW

Today's repertoire is a journey through light, shadow, and reflection, beginning with Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major, where the familiar Prelude sets a joyful and uplifting tone. This is followed by Britten’s Second Cello Suite, full of intense expression through dramatic contrasts and haunting melodies and demanding technical mastery. The final piece is a cello transcription of the Chaconne in D minor from Bach’s Violin Partita, a profound and spiritually powerful work on which to end the recital.

This is the first time that Roman River has held a concert in St Osyth Priory chapel. The teeny tiny space, with charming stained glass windows, was converted from a monk's dorter - or sleeping quarters - in the late 19th Century. Built of knapped flint, like the impressive gatehouse, and in a spot which doesn't get a lot of sunlight, it is not especially warm - we recommend coming well dressed and possibly with gloves and a throw to wrap around your legs!

It's hard to imagine it now, but the village of St Osyth (also called Toosey locally!) itself was an important mediaeval pilgrimage centre, based on the cult of the saint, St Osyth or Osgyth, a semi-legendary Saxon princess and martyr. The current building, an Augustinian priory or monastery was established in the 12th century and has undergone numerous changes over the intervening centuries. It is now being beautifully restored, and is a gorgeous wedding and party venue.

PROGRAMME
Bach Suite no. 1 in G major
Britten Second Cello Suite
Bach Chaconne in D minor from the Violin Partita

Duration: approx. 1 hour
Orlando Jopling | cello

Tickets £15 - £20 (£10 for under 30s)

Planning: Doors open at 11.30, the concert begins at 12 noon.

There is ample parking available on site - drive past the priory on your right, and turn down West Field Lane (the entrance to the new housing estate on priory grounds), following this until you see signs to the carparking, where one of our volunteers will be on hand to guide you. The car park is a short walk to the chapel; do bear in mind it's on gravel pathways. For disabled drop-off, follow signs to Darcy West.

If still not sure, follow this link to the Priory website where you will find an excellent Venue Map: https://www.stosythpriory.co.uk/contact#HowToFindUs

For lunch afterwards, a nearby option is the lovely The Dukes Bistro in St Osyth with a deli or a proper lunch menu: www.dukesbistro.com
To email or call to book a table: info@dukesbistro.com or 01255 821191

3 Concert Discount

Buy a season pass to all three concerts for just £50 (with your third concert half price!)

Photo credit: Lucy J. Toms