Buxton Festival is the UK’s largest and foremost opera festival and the only one dedicated to producing rarely performed opera, featuring a highly acclaimed programme of operatic gems that cannot be seen elsewhere. Recently hailed as good as an arts festival gets by The Independent, and commended as the principal supplier of new opera in the North West, Buxton Festival has a reputation for excellence and maintains its national profile as the UK’s leading festival of its kind.
A bustling, buoyant celebration of opera, classical music and literature that seems to grow in strength every year
The Times
Set in the heart of the Peak District, the Festival boasts a unique setting in the historic spa town of Buxton, where visitors can enjoy top-class opera in the magnificent Edwardian Buxton Opera House with beautiful gold interior, classical music recitals, Literary talks and lots more superb events in many of Buxton’s elegant hotels, churches and other fascinating venues, including the unique Devonshire Dome.
Highlights for 2007 include:
- Donizetti’s triumphant Roberto Devereux, recounts the story of the fearsome Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex in their tempestuous relationship. Sung in Italian. Dates: 6, 9, 13, 17, 21 July
- Offenbach’s Bluebeard – a slick comedy of marriage and deceit about the aristocratic serial bigamist! Dates: 7, 10, 14, 18, 22 July
- Mozart’s comic masterpiece, Le nozze di Figaro, sung in Italian. Dates: 8, 16, 20 July
- See the legend come alive with Purcell’s victorious King Arthur. Dates: 9, 17 July
- The world’s most famous love story Romeo and Juliet in a UK premiere of Georg Benda’s classical opera. Dates: 12, 15 July
- Experience an unforgettable journey with Jonathan Dove’s Tobias and the Angel. Dates: 9, 11,13 July
- One night of greed, lust and infidelity with Boesman’s powerful Julie. Date: 19 July
- A special evening recital with Britain’s best loved soprano Dame Felicity Lott, plus concerts by Emma Kirby, Jonathan Lemalu, Alice Coote, Ann Murray, Robin Blaze, Peter Donohoe, Lukas Vondracek and Pavel Haas Quartet
The incredible opera and music programme is complemented by a much envied Literary Series which takes place every morning. These are hosted by Festival Chairman Roy Hattersley who ends his seven years as Chairman on a high note with another glittering line up of renowned authors, including: Joanna Trollope, Claire Tomalin, Julian Barnes, John Simpson, Antonia Fraser and James Naughtie. Roy will step down as Chairman at the end of the Festival in July after an incredible contribution and exceptional service to the Festival. We are delighted to announce that Dame Janet Smith will take over as Festival Chairman from August.
2007 also marks the first year under Andrew Greenwood’s directorship. Andrew is an accomplished conductor, with over 25 years’ experience working with major opera companies around the world. ‘Buxton Festival is the leading festival of its kind in the UK and I am delighted to be taking over from Aidan Lang as Artistic Director at this exciting time when the Festival is doing so well. I very much look forward to the next three years’ said Andrew Greenwood
Buxton Festival allows visitors to see a wide range and vast number of performances in just a few days and the friendly Festival atmosphere provides a warm welcome to newcomers and many loyal patrons alike. At the heart of the Festival’s programme is an exciting range of education events. The programme ensures the involvement of the local community, with a range of events from our community opera to concerts and workshops we aim to introduce people to opera and to encourage creativity and learning through music. The Festival has involved over 15,000 people in creative projects in the last few years.
In short, there really is something for everyone. Full details will be available from March. Join the mailing list now by contacting the Festival Office on Tel: 01298 70395 or Email: heather@buxtonfestival.co.uk
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