BUXTON FESTIVAL 2018: Hell's Angels, opera and The Beatles...

The event has a global reputation for presenting hidden gems from the opera world. This year sees the conclusion of Buxton’s trilogy of early Verdi opera when director Elijah Moshinsky brings his interpretation of Alzira.

Mozart demonstrated his maturity with Buxton’s other home-grown opera Idomeneo, the story of refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean from conflict in Asia – the Trojan War.

The Hell’s Angels ride into town for a hugely popular modern version of Donizetti’s The Daughter of The Regiment, while another rare piece of operatic music which Buxton will bring to the stage is Tisbe, by Brescianello.

Lesley Garrett will raise the curtain on the festival by hosting a gala night featuring memorable songs from the worlds of opera, operetta and musical theatre.

Musical concerts include songs by the ever-popular baritone Roderick Williams, the dazzling Suite Americana among other pieces from London Metropolitan Brass and baroque music on the original instruments from The English Concert.

Barb Jungr and John McDaniel start the jazz programme with their Come Together interpretation of The Beatles’ work.

Derbyshire’s own violinist Lizzie Ball joins Morgan Szymanski on guitar to present the life, times and art of the enigmatic painter Frida Kahlo in words and music.

The late Dudley Moore is most famous as a comedian and Hollywood star, but his first love was the piano, and The Chris Ingham Quartet return to Buxton explore to explore his jazz legacy in a loving and humorous tribute.

And big-band jazz explodes on stage with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Buxton brings its history up-to-date

A history of Britain told through the lives of 21 women who helped to shape it is one of the books to be featured.

BBC Women’s Hour host Jenni Murray focuses on the famous queens, unrecognised visionaries, great artists and trailblazing politicians who all pushed back boundaries and revolutionised our world.

Bringing the past up-to-date is one of the themes of the Book Series, and includes a reunion by members of TV’s Time Team in Tony Robinson (pictured) and Friends Dig Up the Past.

Tony and some of the archaeologists who made the Channel Four programme meet on the opera house stage to talk about how a series set in a hole in the ground turned the nation on to ancient history.

Charles Spencer on Charles II, the actor Terence Stamp on his life and Simon Jenkins on Britain’s most striking railway stations are just some of the other 45 book events in the series.

For the full festival programme, visit www.buxtonfestival.co.uk.