Buxton Festival unveils bumper 2014 programme

Over 100 people attended the event held at the Pavilion Arts Centre last Thursday to hear more about the performances lined up for this year’s event, which runs from July 11 to 27.

The festival’s opera productions this year include Dvořák’s The Jacobin, which creates a romantic village atmosphere, with sentimental action and open-hearted lyricism; Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, considered a milestone both in Gluck’s work and in the history of opera; and Rossini’s Otello - especially notable for its original and highly sympathetic portrayal of the character of Desdemona and its superb third act.

There’s also the Mahogany Opera Group’s production of HK Gruber’s Gloria – A Pigtale (a ‘cabaret opera’ performed by five ‘human sausages’ and a big band, mixing jazz, blues, Bavarian oompah, Mahler and Wagner) and the opening night Opera Gala starring Susan Bullock and Richard Berkeley-Steele.

In the music series, there’s a packed programme of concerts by renowned ensembles including The Lawson Trio, Innovation Chamber Ensemble, 4 Girls 4 Harps, Endellion String Quartet, Schubert Ensemble, La Serenissima and Hallé Soloists, instrumental soloists pianists Yuanfan Yang and Sofya Gulyak, cellist Jessie Ann Richardson, accordionist Djordje Gajik, and singers mezzo Rosalind Plowright and baritone Roderick Williams. There’s also late-night cabaret from great names in jazz including pianist Joe Stilgoe, soul singer Natalie Williams, saxophonist Alex Garnett and vocalist/trumpeter Georgina Jackson.

Buxton Festival’s literary series features famous names and acclaimed authors including Kate Adie, Peter Snow, Jonathan Aitken, Paddy Ashdown, Antonia Fraser, Claudia Roden, Vicky Pryce, Gyles Brandreth, and Kirsty Wark. This year also sees the launch of Sunday evening ‘Evenings with’ celebrated figures including Jeffrey Archer and Ranulph Fiennes.

There’s also free weekend events open to all ages, including storytelling in the Magical Storytelling Yurt and for anyone looking for a free taster of the festival’s operas, there’s A Song at Six, each day in the Pavilion Gardens Bandstand.

For more details and to view the new 90 second Festival video see www.buxtonfestival.co.uk or call 01298 70395.