Summer Festivals 2009 - Festival Estate 2009
Settimane Musicali di Stresa e del Lago Maggiore (Stresa Festival)
August 1 - September 5, 2009
The international festival Settimane Musicali di Stresa, in its 48th edition, now known as Stresa Festival, is one of the most important festivals in Italy.
Exclusive concerts are held in: the splendid Tapestry Hall in Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella; the Loggia del Cashmere on Isola Madre; the magnificent Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso; Visconteo Castle in Vogogna and Rocca Borromeo in Angera; the monumental Church Madonna di Campagna in Verbania; the Renaissance Old Church in Belgirate; and the Sacro Monte in Ghiffa.
On August 1 the concerts begin with "Musical Meditations", the highlight of which is the complete cycle of Bach's Cello Suites performed by Colin Carr, offering an ideal showcase for medieval and late Baroque music.
The Festival's main theme for 2009, entitled "Meetings and Dialogues", represents the perfect compliment to a summer spent on and around stunning Lake Maggiore, and includes exceptional orchestras and soloists such as: the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev; Radio Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurtconducted by Paavo Järvi with violinist Janine Jansen; the BBC Philharmonic Orchestraconducted by Gianandrea Noseda; plus theJerusalem Quartet, Ilya Gringolts, Jennifer Larmore and Vivica Genaux.
The 2009 Festival will feature Rossini's La Cenerentola (with the Stresa Festival Orchestraand Gianandrea Noseda) and The Rape of Lucretiaby Benjamin Britten with the Royal Northern College of Music Orchestra.
www.stresafestival.eu
To buy tickets: boxoffice@stresafestival.eu
To request a brochure: info@stresafestival.eu
+39 0323 31095
August 1 - September 5, 2009
The international festival Settimane Musicali di Stresa, in its 48th edition, now known as Stresa Festival, is one of the most important festivals in Italy.
Exclusive concerts are held in: the splendid Tapestry Hall in Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella; the Loggia del Cashmere on Isola Madre; the magnificent Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso; Visconteo Castle in Vogogna and Rocca Borromeo in Angera; the monumental Church Madonna di Campagna in Verbania; the Renaissance Old Church in Belgirate; and the Sacro Monte in Ghiffa.
On August 1 the concerts begin with "Musical Meditations", the highlight of which is the complete cycle of Bach's Cello Suites performed by Colin Carr, offering an ideal showcase for medieval and late Baroque music.
The Festival's main theme for 2009, entitled "Meetings and Dialogues", represents the perfect compliment to a summer spent on and around stunning Lake Maggiore, and includes exceptional orchestras and soloists such as: the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev; Radio Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurtconducted by Paavo Järvi with violinist Janine Jansen; the BBC Philharmonic Orchestraconducted by Gianandrea Noseda; plus theJerusalem Quartet, Ilya Gringolts, Jennifer Larmore and Vivica Genaux.
The 2009 Festival will feature Rossini's La Cenerentola (with the Stresa Festival Orchestraand Gianandrea Noseda) and The Rape of Lucretiaby Benjamin Britten with the Royal Northern College of Music Orchestra.
www.stresafestival.eu
To buy tickets: boxoffice@stresafestival.eu
To request a brochure: info@stresafestival.eu
+39 0323 31095
Bard Summerscape
July 9-August 23, 2009
Over seven extraordinary weeks, beginning July 9, Bard SummerScape 2009 explores the rich, diverse, and controversial cultural worlds of Richard Wagner. Featuring opera, music, theatre, dance, film, and the 20th annual Bard Music Festival, "Wagner and His World," our 2009 season highlights include a rare, fully staged production of Giacomo Meyerbeer's grand opera Les Huguenots; Felix Mendelssohn's St Paul (both Meyerbeer and Mendelssohn were subjects of Wagner's anti-Semitic scorn); and a staging of the Ted Hughes translation of Aeschylus's trilogy The Oresteia.
For its 20th anniversary season, the Bard Music Festival will explore all aspects of the works and world of Richard Wagner, a brilliant composer who, to this day, inspires great controversy for his political views and ardent self-promotion. "Wagner and His World" explores his music through orchestral and chamber concerts, while panel discussions tackle many of the most contentious aspects of his life, career, and legacy.
SummerScape takes place in the visually stunning, acoustically superb Fisher Center, designed by Frank Gehry, and other venues on Bard's scenic Mid-Hudson River Valley, New York campus. TheAmerican Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductor and music director Leon Botstein, are in residence. Come and experience what the International Herald Tribune called "…seven weeks of cultural delight."
http://fishercenter.bard.edu/
July 9-August 23, 2009
Over seven extraordinary weeks, beginning July 9, Bard SummerScape 2009 explores the rich, diverse, and controversial cultural worlds of Richard Wagner. Featuring opera, music, theatre, dance, film, and the 20th annual Bard Music Festival, "Wagner and His World," our 2009 season highlights include a rare, fully staged production of Giacomo Meyerbeer's grand opera Les Huguenots; Felix Mendelssohn's St Paul (both Meyerbeer and Mendelssohn were subjects of Wagner's anti-Semitic scorn); and a staging of the Ted Hughes translation of Aeschylus's trilogy The Oresteia.
For its 20th anniversary season, the Bard Music Festival will explore all aspects of the works and world of Richard Wagner, a brilliant composer who, to this day, inspires great controversy for his political views and ardent self-promotion. "Wagner and His World" explores his music through orchestral and chamber concerts, while panel discussions tackle many of the most contentious aspects of his life, career, and legacy.
SummerScape takes place in the visually stunning, acoustically superb Fisher Center, designed by Frank Gehry, and other venues on Bard's scenic Mid-Hudson River Valley, New York campus. TheAmerican Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductor and music director Leon Botstein, are in residence. Come and experience what the International Herald Tribune called "…seven weeks of cultural delight."
http://fishercenter.bard.edu/
+1 845 758 7900
Cambridge Summer Music Festival
July 17-August 8, 2009
The new, the old, the original, the favourite - music in Cambridge this summer is an exciting mix of sounds in wonderful spaces. Catch performances by choirs: The Clerks with His Majesties Saggbutts and Cornets, or Clare College with Fauré's Requiem. Great chamber ensembles abound: theLondon Sinfonietta, the Skampa and Wihan Quartets and the Rosamunde Trio. Soloists such as Chloë Hanslip, Ashley Wass, and Raphael Wallfisch, and guitarist Eduardo Nieblahighlight the three weeks of the Festival.
Hear Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave in King's, the wildly innovative Juice in Queen's, the Carib Steel Band on top of Wandlebury Common, the glorious Mendelssohn Octet in the Debating Chamber of the Cambridge Union, Haydn's opera A World upon the Moon, and the Lunar Saxophone Quartet to follow Boomtown by the Aurora Orchestra. Not to forget Rainer Hersch as Victor Borge.
Intrigued? A brochure is available from the website or by mail, so please contact us for details.
www.cambridgesummermusic.com
info@cambridgesummermusic.com
Tel (box office): +44 (0)1223 357851
Tel (info): +44 (0)1223 894161
Fax: +44 (0)1223 892945
July 17-August 8, 2009
The new, the old, the original, the favourite - music in Cambridge this summer is an exciting mix of sounds in wonderful spaces. Catch performances by choirs: The Clerks with His Majesties Saggbutts and Cornets, or Clare College with Fauré's Requiem. Great chamber ensembles abound: theLondon Sinfonietta, the Skampa and Wihan Quartets and the Rosamunde Trio. Soloists such as Chloë Hanslip, Ashley Wass, and Raphael Wallfisch, and guitarist Eduardo Nieblahighlight the three weeks of the Festival.
Hear Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave in King's, the wildly innovative Juice in Queen's, the Carib Steel Band on top of Wandlebury Common, the glorious Mendelssohn Octet in the Debating Chamber of the Cambridge Union, Haydn's opera A World upon the Moon, and the Lunar Saxophone Quartet to follow Boomtown by the Aurora Orchestra. Not to forget Rainer Hersch as Victor Borge.
Intrigued? A brochure is available from the website or by mail, so please contact us for details.
www.cambridgesummermusic.com
info@cambridgesummermusic.com
Tel (box office): +44 (0)1223 357851
Tel (info): +44 (0)1223 894161
Fax: +44 (0)1223 892945
Cellist Raphael Wallfisch performs in Cambridge
Cheltenham Music Festival
July 3-18, 2009
The Cheltenham Music Festival is 65 in 2009. With its bold beginnings in June 1945 - two months before Hiroshima and the end of World War Two - its continued commitment to musical adventure and captivating performances has made it one of the most widely-admired festivals of its kind. To celebrate there is a focus on composers of Jewish heritage, 250 years of the string quartet, and a look at 65 years of Cheltenham premieres.
The Jewish strand takes its cue from the bicentenary of Mendelssohn's birth in 1809, with a huge range of music - from medieval Sephardic chant to Hollywood film scores, via Schoenberg, Mahler, Barber, Finzi, Reich and many more.
The bicentenary of Haydn's death the same year triggers the "World Quartets" series, with theBorodin, Royal, Diotima, Smith, Endellion, Barbirolli, Australian and Meta4 Quartets. And in "Painted Quartets" violins, violas and cellos are transformed into works of art.
New music from composers such as Birtwistle, Beamish and Pintscher join performances of Handel from the OAE, Adès and Sibelius from the Halléand Edward Gardner, and recitals by Steven Isserlis, Angela Hewitt and Emma Johnson.
http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/music
Cheltenham Music Festival
July 3-18, 2009
The Cheltenham Music Festival is 65 in 2009. With its bold beginnings in June 1945 - two months before Hiroshima and the end of World War Two - its continued commitment to musical adventure and captivating performances has made it one of the most widely-admired festivals of its kind. To celebrate there is a focus on composers of Jewish heritage, 250 years of the string quartet, and a look at 65 years of Cheltenham premieres.
The Jewish strand takes its cue from the bicentenary of Mendelssohn's birth in 1809, with a huge range of music - from medieval Sephardic chant to Hollywood film scores, via Schoenberg, Mahler, Barber, Finzi, Reich and many more.
The bicentenary of Haydn's death the same year triggers the "World Quartets" series, with theBorodin, Royal, Diotima, Smith, Endellion, Barbirolli, Australian and Meta4 Quartets. And in "Painted Quartets" violins, violas and cellos are transformed into works of art.
New music from composers such as Birtwistle, Beamish and Pintscher join performances of Handel from the OAE, Adès and Sibelius from the Halléand Edward Gardner, and recitals by Steven Isserlis, Angela Hewitt and Emma Johnson.
http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/music
+44 (0)844 576 8970
The Classical Opera Company
MITRIDATE, RE DI PONTO - world premiere staging of Mozart's 'original' version
June 2, 2009, Sadler's Wells
July 12, 20, 24, 2009, Buxton Festival
The Classical Opera Company makes a welcome return to Sadler's Wells and the Buxton Festival with the first-ever staging of the "original" version of Mozart's remarkable Mitridate, re di Ponto, written when the composer was only 14 years old. This "original" version, specially created by the Classical Opera Company, incorporates eight numbers which Mozart was forced to jettison in advance of the opera's premiere, including two sketches which have been completed by the renowned scholar and Mozart specialist, the late Stanley Sadie. The eternal tensions of infatuated love, filial duty and the lust for power are played out in an astonishing score of stunning insight and beauty. The cast includes Allison Bell, Kishani Jayasinghe, Stephen Wallace and Mark Le Brocq, and the production will be directed byMartin Lloyd-Evans and conducted by Ian Pagewith his vibrant period-instrument orchestra.
Sadler's Wells tickets (£12 - £48) available from: www.sadlerswells.com/show/The-Classical-Opera-Company
Buxton Festival tickets (£7 - £39) available from: www.buxtonfestival.co.uk
+44 (0)845 1272190
Fishguard International Music Festival
July 24-August 1, 2009
The Fishguard International Music Festival is 40 years old in 2009. We are celebrating choral, orchestral and chamber music in West Wales.
2009 highlights include the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera with Peter Donohoe in Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations and Schubert's Symphony No 9; the Wihan String Quartet in three concerts; a jazz eveing with Claire Martinand Ian Shaw; and Karl Jenkins conducting the first British performance of his Violin Concerto withMarat Bisengaliev (dedicatee) as soloist accompanied by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. In addition music from the first Festival in 1970 is performed; local vocalist Tony Jacobs provides a late evening concert; and The Temperance Seven bring events to an end including a live broadcast of Radio 4's popular Any Questions?.
Concerts and events take place in Fishguard, Goodwick, St Davids Cathedral and Rhos-y-gilwen Mansion.
www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk
+44 (0)1348 875538
Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival
July 6-July 12, 2009
In the Lofoten Islands in the northern part of Norway, one of the most fascinating sceneries in Europe, we celebrate every year in July a week of classical chamber music with leading musicians from the international arena.
The Lofoten Islands, with its steep mountains rising more or less directly from the sea, and with 24-hour daylight, is the most perfect environment for taking in music, and music lovers from many parts of the world gather in many different venues, mostly wooden churches, to listen to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and others.
This year's programme features the brilliant Orion String Quartet from New York; pianist Anton Kuerti from Canada, with a direct pedagogical line to Beethoven; the Norwegian Grieg Trio;Engegard Quartet; and grand old man Arve Tellefsen on violin.
www.lofotenfestival.no
+47 913 98 640
Longborough Festival Opera, Cotswolds
June 10-July 22, 2009
Longborough Festival Opera this summer is presenting new productions of The Marriage of Figaro and A Midsummer Night's Dream, a newly staged revival of Carmen and a Young Artists Production of La Bohème.
There will also be two concerts - "A German Romantic Concert" which features the first Act ofDie Walküre, with Alwyn Mellor singing Brünnhilde, and "An Italian Serenade" conducted by Gianluca Marcianó.
Performances begin at 6.30pm with a 90-minute supper interval to enjoy the wonderful views across the Evenlode Valley. There are some Sunday afternoon performances of Figaro, A Midsummer Night's Dream and a concert.
www.lfo.org.uk
+44 (0)1451-830292
Ryedale Festival
July 17-August 2, 2009
Ryedale Festival holds 43 concerts in 30 stunning venues across the North Yorkshire Moors in July. This year we celebrate Haydn and Hungary, with music ranging from Haydn's works for mechanical clock and a puppet opera, to Kodály's magical operaHáry János, which will be staged in a new English translation - a very rare event in this country.
Artists include the Northern Sinfonia (three concerts), Amsterdam and Barbirolli String Quartets, Martin Roscoe, Gould Piano Trio, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, King's Camerata, Kosmos Ensemble, and many others. Our renowned Community Opera celebrates its tenth birthday and our popular "Coffee Concert" series includes recitals by leading cimbalom and accordion players. We also have performances by local bands, theatre, lectures and the launch of a filmmaking competition. An exciting innovation in this year's programme will be a major performance of African music ("Rhythm and Ritual"), all in newly-created arrangements which bring together singing, film and dance, with a weekend of workshops to which everyone is invited!
In recent years we have experimented with the traditional concert format and created the "Triple Concert at Castle Howard", and last year the "Ryecrawl" - a magical musical mystery tour, linking short concerts in seven outstanding venues in one day by a coach tour. Both of these events will be back in 2009, bringing to life some of the stunning venues we have in this most beautiful part of North Yorkshire.
www.ryedalefestival.co.uk
tickets@ryedalefestival.co.uk
+44 (0)1751 475777
Salisbury International Arts Festival
May 22 - June 6, 2009
Salisbury International Arts Festival in 2009 presents over 100 concerts, gigs, exhibitions, films, author talks and plays including world premieres, new commissions and spectacular free outdoor events woven through with the themes of India, Spirit and Water.
Our events are presented in Salisbury's unique performance spaces - from the glorious Cathedral, to the beautiful and acoustically superb Wilton Church, plus a myriad of other intimate and wonderful churches - and include The Tallis Scholars and the London Mozart Players.
Chamber music is well represented at the Festival with the fourth in the Confluences cycle - a commission between author Vikram Seth and composer Alec Roth that has been named "the Rolls and Royce of the arts world" by The Times - performed alongside sparkling Schubert. In addition the Endellion Quartet presents an all-Beethoven programme; John Lill performs Haydn, Schumann, Chopin and Beethoven; and there is a colourful programme from Craig Ogden andJudith Hall.
Opera Project premiere their new production ofThe Marriage of Figaro and Alexander Waughilluminates the story of concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein. Another special moment will be the premiere performance of Bob Chilcott's Salisbury Vespers.
The colour of the programme is aided in no small part by the inspiring presence of our artist in residence, Kuljit Bhamra. Kuljit will perform with friends including The Orlando Consort. He will also accompany the film Entr'acte as part of our strongest ever film series, as well as creating a special event for us at Stonehenge.
www.salisburyfestival.co.uk
+44 (0)845 241 9651
The Classical Opera Company
MITRIDATE, RE DI PONTO - world premiere staging of Mozart's 'original' version
June 2, 2009, Sadler's Wells
July 12, 20, 24, 2009, Buxton Festival
The Classical Opera Company makes a welcome return to Sadler's Wells and the Buxton Festival with the first-ever staging of the "original" version of Mozart's remarkable Mitridate, re di Ponto, written when the composer was only 14 years old. This "original" version, specially created by the Classical Opera Company, incorporates eight numbers which Mozart was forced to jettison in advance of the opera's premiere, including two sketches which have been completed by the renowned scholar and Mozart specialist, the late Stanley Sadie. The eternal tensions of infatuated love, filial duty and the lust for power are played out in an astonishing score of stunning insight and beauty. The cast includes Allison Bell, Kishani Jayasinghe, Stephen Wallace and Mark Le Brocq, and the production will be directed byMartin Lloyd-Evans and conducted by Ian Pagewith his vibrant period-instrument orchestra.
Sadler's Wells tickets (£12 - £48) available from: www.sadlerswells.com/show/The-Classical-Opera-Company
Buxton Festival tickets (£7 - £39) available from: www.buxtonfestival.co.uk
+44 (0)845 1272190
Fishguard International Music Festival
July 24-August 1, 2009
The Fishguard International Music Festival is 40 years old in 2009. We are celebrating choral, orchestral and chamber music in West Wales.
2009 highlights include the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera with Peter Donohoe in Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations and Schubert's Symphony No 9; the Wihan String Quartet in three concerts; a jazz eveing with Claire Martinand Ian Shaw; and Karl Jenkins conducting the first British performance of his Violin Concerto withMarat Bisengaliev (dedicatee) as soloist accompanied by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. In addition music from the first Festival in 1970 is performed; local vocalist Tony Jacobs provides a late evening concert; and The Temperance Seven bring events to an end including a live broadcast of Radio 4's popular Any Questions?.
Concerts and events take place in Fishguard, Goodwick, St Davids Cathedral and Rhos-y-gilwen Mansion.
www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk
+44 (0)1348 875538
Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival
July 6-July 12, 2009
In the Lofoten Islands in the northern part of Norway, one of the most fascinating sceneries in Europe, we celebrate every year in July a week of classical chamber music with leading musicians from the international arena.
The Lofoten Islands, with its steep mountains rising more or less directly from the sea, and with 24-hour daylight, is the most perfect environment for taking in music, and music lovers from many parts of the world gather in many different venues, mostly wooden churches, to listen to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and others.
This year's programme features the brilliant Orion String Quartet from New York; pianist Anton Kuerti from Canada, with a direct pedagogical line to Beethoven; the Norwegian Grieg Trio;Engegard Quartet; and grand old man Arve Tellefsen on violin.
www.lofotenfestival.no
+47 913 98 640
Longborough Festival Opera, Cotswolds
June 10-July 22, 2009
Longborough Festival Opera this summer is presenting new productions of The Marriage of Figaro and A Midsummer Night's Dream, a newly staged revival of Carmen and a Young Artists Production of La Bohème.
There will also be two concerts - "A German Romantic Concert" which features the first Act ofDie Walküre, with Alwyn Mellor singing Brünnhilde, and "An Italian Serenade" conducted by Gianluca Marcianó.
Performances begin at 6.30pm with a 90-minute supper interval to enjoy the wonderful views across the Evenlode Valley. There are some Sunday afternoon performances of Figaro, A Midsummer Night's Dream and a concert.
www.lfo.org.uk
+44 (0)1451-830292
Ryedale Festival
July 17-August 2, 2009
Ryedale Festival holds 43 concerts in 30 stunning venues across the North Yorkshire Moors in July. This year we celebrate Haydn and Hungary, with music ranging from Haydn's works for mechanical clock and a puppet opera, to Kodály's magical operaHáry János, which will be staged in a new English translation - a very rare event in this country.
Artists include the Northern Sinfonia (three concerts), Amsterdam and Barbirolli String Quartets, Martin Roscoe, Gould Piano Trio, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, King's Camerata, Kosmos Ensemble, and many others. Our renowned Community Opera celebrates its tenth birthday and our popular "Coffee Concert" series includes recitals by leading cimbalom and accordion players. We also have performances by local bands, theatre, lectures and the launch of a filmmaking competition. An exciting innovation in this year's programme will be a major performance of African music ("Rhythm and Ritual"), all in newly-created arrangements which bring together singing, film and dance, with a weekend of workshops to which everyone is invited!
In recent years we have experimented with the traditional concert format and created the "Triple Concert at Castle Howard", and last year the "Ryecrawl" - a magical musical mystery tour, linking short concerts in seven outstanding venues in one day by a coach tour. Both of these events will be back in 2009, bringing to life some of the stunning venues we have in this most beautiful part of North Yorkshire.
www.ryedalefestival.co.uk
tickets@ryedalefestival.co.uk
+44 (0)1751 475777
Salisbury International Arts Festival
May 22 - June 6, 2009
Salisbury International Arts Festival in 2009 presents over 100 concerts, gigs, exhibitions, films, author talks and plays including world premieres, new commissions and spectacular free outdoor events woven through with the themes of India, Spirit and Water.
Our events are presented in Salisbury's unique performance spaces - from the glorious Cathedral, to the beautiful and acoustically superb Wilton Church, plus a myriad of other intimate and wonderful churches - and include The Tallis Scholars and the London Mozart Players.
Chamber music is well represented at the Festival with the fourth in the Confluences cycle - a commission between author Vikram Seth and composer Alec Roth that has been named "the Rolls and Royce of the arts world" by The Times - performed alongside sparkling Schubert. In addition the Endellion Quartet presents an all-Beethoven programme; John Lill performs Haydn, Schumann, Chopin and Beethoven; and there is a colourful programme from Craig Ogden andJudith Hall.
Opera Project premiere their new production ofThe Marriage of Figaro and Alexander Waughilluminates the story of concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein. Another special moment will be the premiere performance of Bob Chilcott's Salisbury Vespers.
The colour of the programme is aided in no small part by the inspiring presence of our artist in residence, Kuljit Bhamra. Kuljit will perform with friends including The Orlando Consort. He will also accompany the film Entr'acte as part of our strongest ever film series, as well as creating a special event for us at Stonehenge.
www.salisburyfestival.co.uk
+44 (0)845 241 9651
Kuljit Bhamra and The Orlando Consort
Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, London
June 7-19, 2009
Spitalfields comes alive with the award-winning Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, bringing world-class musicians to an extraordinarily vibrant area of London to perform early and new music, jazz, and opera in the glorious Christ Church Spitalfields and Wilton's Music Hall.
The evening concert series ranges from renaissance to contemporary music and includes world premieres from Jonathan Dove, Michael Finnissy and Diana Burrell.
Performers include: I Fagiolini, the Schubert Ensemble, The Tallis Scholars, Royal Academy of Music, Caius Consort, Loré Lixenburg, David Alberman, and The Early Opera Company amongst others…
The Festival also features free open-air lunchtime concerts in Spitalfields Market, a "Family Fun Day" and a wide variety of local walks, visits and talks.
www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7377 1362
Swaledale Festival
May 23-June 6, 2009
Start your summer in Swaledale at a charming festival with a longstanding reputation for programming a distinctive balance of classical, choral, jazz, folk and world music events.
Events take place in intimate venues throughout the northern dales of Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale in North Yorkshire.
This year's festival includes performances by poet, comedian and broadcaster Ian McMillan; jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock; York Minster Choirand Leeds Baroque Choir; and violinist Tasmin Little in her music education project "The Naked Violin". There are also school workshops and a specially commissioned community opera by award-winning children's author Ann Pilling and composer David Gordon.
www.swaledale-festival.org.uk
+44 (0)1748 880019
Three Choirs Festival, Hereford
August 8-15, 2009
Held annually since the early 18th century, the week-long Three Choirs Festival rotates between the three great Cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. One of the world's oldest classical choral music festivals, it is a firm fixture in the British music calendar.
A series of evening choral and orchestral concerts in the cathedral are supported by outstanding daytime programmes of recitals, chamber music, theatre, jazz, lectures, exhibitions and educational workshops.
Top attractions: Elgar's Dream of Gerontius withCatherine Wyn-Rogers, Adrian Thompson andNeal Davies; Sally Matthews performing Strauss's Vier letzte lieder; Tugan Sokhievconducting the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto withJennifer Pike; The combined Cathedral Choirsconducted by Stephen Layton in Handel's Israel in Egypt.
There is something for everyone at Three Choirs, so why not find out what all the excitement is about, and visit this unique annual event!
www.3choirs.org
0845 652 1823
Verbier Festival
July 17-August 2, 2009
The 16th Verbier Festival in its idyllic Swiss Alpine setting takes place during 17 days with up to four concerts a day and numerous events throughout, offering a rich choice of music for all. Major highlights during this year's Festival include a concert performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni on July 20 with an international star cast includingRené Pape, Susan Graham, Bryn Terfel andThomas Quasthoff. A unique celebration of the piano on July 27 will treat concertgoers to the joy of hearing no fewer than nine of the world's greatest pianists in a single programme, with Emanuel Ax, Hélène Grimaud, Stephen Kovacevich, Oleg Maisenberg, Simon Trpceski and Yuja Wang.
To book tickets: call +41 (0) 848 771 882, from Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 6 pm or go to:www.verbierfestival.com/index.php?page=programme_en
Fondation du Festival et Académie de Verbier
4, rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
CH-1800 Vevey
+41 21 925 90 60
info@verbierfestival.com
www.verbierfestival.com
West Cork Chamber Music Festival
June 27-July 5, 2009
Almost 100 international musicians perform 36 concerts over the nine days in beautiful Bantry House and St Brendan's Church in Bantry.
This is the Festival where the music lover can hear the finest works in the repertoire as well as world premieres of some of the most exciting new music of our time. From Beethoven to medieval French sacred music, Mozart to Norwegian Folk Music, the programme is as eclectic as it is engaging. Magnificent works by Shostakovich and spectacular performances of Bach by star violinist Alina Ibragimova are highlights alongside Gubaidulina's breathtaking On the Edge of the Abyss with a staggering seven cellos on stage with two waterphones, which will surely raise much curiosity.
Grammy award-nominated Trio Mediaeval will be taking the Festival into new territory, singing music from the 13th to 20th century. Haydn and Mendelssohn's anniversaries are celebrated in style throughout the week with quintets, quartets, trios, sonatas and songs, while a French theme continues throughout the week with music by Fauré, Dusapin, Duparc and a strong contingent of French wind players. Composers John Kinsella, Giya Kancheli, Lera Auerbach and Michael Dohertywill be in the audience to hear premieres of their works, played by such luminaries as flautist Janne Thomsen, RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet andQuatuor Danel.
The up-and-coming stars of tomorrow rub shoulders with present day virtuosos in a series of masterclasses, culminating in concerts on the final day of the Festival. A violin and bow making exhibition runs throughout and features a mid-week demonstration.
West Cork Music
13 Glengarriff Rd
Bantry Co Cork Ireland
www.westcorkmusic.ie
+353 (0) 27 52788
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