Buxton Festival of Opera, Music and Books 2016 Programme Announced

The internationally renowned and award-winning Buxton Festival, featuring opera, music and books, will take place from 8th to 24th July. Much-anticipated opera performances include Beethoven’s Leonore, Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Handel’s Tamerlano. The impressive opera programme also includes a concert performance of Vivaldi’s La Senna Festeggiante and a UK Premiere by Music Theatre Wales of The Golden Dragon by Peter Eotvos.

Artistic Director Stephen Barlow commented that ‘Handel, Beethoven and Bellini make a profoundly impressive trio of giants when grouped together in a presentation of operas that are cherry-picked from their work.’

The 16-day Festival also features 38 concerts and recitals from world-renowned musicians and singers including internationally celebrated pianists Stephen Kovacevic and Angela Hewitt, The Chilingirian Quartet, baritone Roderick Williams, tenor James Gilchrist, The Schubert Ensemble and The English Concert. The late-night concerts in the Pavilion Café also showcase the best in jazz, folk and world music.

This year’s book festival includes 43 talks by the UK’s best authors, covering topics from the railways to butterflies, trees to bible translations, the Loch Ness Monster to Charlotte Bronte. Speakers include inspirational cook Sarah Raven, alternative comedy pioneer Alexei Sayle, broadcasters Melvyn Bragg and Joan Bakewell, politician Vince Cable and former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis.

With 2016 being the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, there are also events in all strands of the Festival commemorating this landmark, including a puppet version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for all the family.

Randall Shannon, the Festival’s Executive Director commented that ‘We look forward to welcoming our valued local, national and increasingly international audience to one of the UK’s most enjoyable and stimulating arts festivals. We are particularly pleased to announce the partnership with Ecclesiastical Insurance and the University of Derby.’

For further details on the packed programme visit buxtonfestival.co.uk or call the Festival team on 01298 70395.

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