I have never been to a festival like this. There is a composer in residence, the Latvian Pĕteris Vasks, one of whose works is played in each concert. He is at every concert and shares in the applause. There's a large number of musicians who clearly know each other personally and musically who play in different combinations with skill and humour. Some of them form O/Modernt, an orchestra made up of people across the globe including Abel Selaocoe (cellist and much else) and Gareth Lubbe (viola player and singer) who, the pair of them announced this evening, are both from Johannesburg and would never have met in that divided country had it not been for music.

Listening is like being a guest of honour at someone else’s family gathering.

Another guest of honour this evening was Ibrahim Keivo, a musician of Armenian descent from Northern Syria now living as a refugee in Germany. About ten days ago social media alerted us to the fact that the Home Office had refused him a visa. An internet petition was launched and garnered 45,000 signatures – far more people than will ever come to this festival – and, extraordinarily, the Home Office capitulated. He arrived yesterday and this evening had us at his feet. A bad quality recording of his performance is here, filmed on a phone by one of the many Syrians who came to hear him. After this performance he, Abel Selaocoe, Gareth Lubbe and Hugo Ticciati did an improvisation. It started tentatively then gradually gained in confidence and laughter until Abel Selaocoe got all the audience joining in as well. 

My phone pictures are appalling, but that’s not the point.