Nicola Lisle looks forward to the 30th Music at St Peter’s season in Wallingford

Not many people would take a disused, unheated church, squeeze a stage into what seemed an impossibly tiny space, and put on a series of chamber concerts. But in 1986, a group of music enthusiasts led by the late Peter Appleby did exactly that.

Three decades later, the Music at St Peter’s season in Wallingford is flourishing, regularly attracting top musicians to its intimate portals, and boasting the world-class soprano Mary Plazas — a former Cholsey resident — as its president.

This year, to mark its 30th season, there are some particularly tasty treats on offer. Star names include tenor John Mark Ainsley and countertenor James Bowman, as well as regulars the Piatti Quartet and Sacconi Quartet, and several emerging young artists.

“It is unusual for us to have two solo song recitals in one season,” says Glynne Stackhouse, who has been artistic director since the 1990s. “But they are by pretty distinguished names!

“James is focusing entirely on English music, beginning and ending with Purcell. He’ll also do some Handel and some 20th-century composers, such as Holst and Vaughan Williams, and end with Purcell’s Evening Hymn, which will be a wonderful piece to finish with.”

“John Mark is coming on May 30, with pianist Joseph Middleton, who’s played here before,” adds secretary Laurence Attewell. “He’s also starting with Purcell, then he’ll move on to Fauré and Schubert, then in the second half he’s doing First World War songs by Butterworth and Gurney, and also songs by Duparc; so quite a broad programme.”

Music at St Peter’s seasons are usually predominantly instrumental, so Glynne and Laurence hope that featuring two star singers will help bring in new audiences.

“One of the reasons for having celebrity concerts is to try and raise our profile a bit and try to appeal to people who wouldn’t otherwise come,” Laurence says. “Once you get them to one concert, hopefully you can bring them in to other concerts too.”

The season kicks off on May 16 with period instrument ensemble DeNote, which was formed in 2010 by leading baroque musicians who have played with the likes of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Academy of Ancient Music. Their all-Mozart programme will include, among other things, the popular Gran Partita.

Both the Piattis and the Sacconis have some surprises in store; the Piatti Quartet is slipping the rarely-performed Webern piece Langsamer Satz in between quartets by Haydn and Beethoven, while the Sacconi Quartet will be featuring Haydn and Mozart alongside a 2001 composition by Jonathan Dove, Out of Time.

Other performers later in the season include pianist John Paul Ekins, cellist Alberto Casadei and local groups the Millbrook Ensemble and the Thames Consort.

It took Music at St Peter’s a few years to find its feet, but as the 30th season approaches it is clear that it now occupies a very comfortable niche in the local music scene.

“The other music in the locality is dominated by church music,” Laurence says. “This is emphatically not that — basically it’s secular, and mostly instrumental, so it is quite different from what other venues are offering in the area.”

Music at St Peter’s 30th Season
St Peter’s Church, Wallingford
May 16- October 3
Tickets and info: musicatstpeterswallingford.org.uk