Orlando Jopling: Cello Suites

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 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.

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)

Doors open at 11.30, the concert begins at 12 noon. The cafe will be open, serving teas and coffees.

There is ample parking around the tower.

Concert 2: Wednesday 24 September, 12 noon
St Osyth Priory Chapel, 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)

Doors open at 11.30, the concert begins at 12 noon. 
We will be running a Roman River 'bar' in our usual style, offering wine and elderflower cordial, both before and for a short time after the concert.

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 the round around to the right. You will soon see signs to carparking and 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 lunch afterwards, there's the lovely The Dukes Bistro in St Osyth with a deli or a proper lunch menu. Their website is currently being updated, but take a look for some mouthwatering pictures: www.dukesbistro.com/
To email or call to book a table: info@dukesbistro.com or 01255 821191

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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We have arranged a fixed price lunch for our Roman River audience in the award-winning and cosy Thatchers Arms next to the church. They are prestige winners of country pub of the year 2025 and finalists of the National pub and bar awards for county pub of the year, Essex (to be announced in June 2025).
A glass or wine and either 2 courses at 20.95 or 3 courses at 24.95 - please call the pub on 01787 227460 or email info@thatchersarms.co.uk to book, quoting Roman River. Menus to be added shortly.

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

Doors open at 11.30, the concert begins at 12 noon. 
The Thatchers Arms have been generous enough to allow us to use their carpark. Parking is also available on roads around the church, but do allow ample time to find a space.

Tickets £15 - £20 (£10 for under 30s)

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