Buxton International Festival Events
As we gear up for Buxton International Festival 2023, public booking is now open for two of our major festival events:
- Jazz Weekender packages, with Wynton Marsalis and Tom Seals headlining
- The Land Of Might-Have-Been, written by Michael Williams (co-creator of the UK Theatre Award winning opera Georgiana), built around the songs of Ivor Novello & loosely based on the early life of Buxton's Vera Brittain.
We're also hugely excited to be going on tour with Cinderella in February 2023! The family-friendly retelling of the classic fairy-tale received national critical acclaim at Buxton International Festival in 2021, playing to sell-out audiences. You can now catch it again it as it goes on tour visiting four venues...
Music and opera highlights announced for 2023
The opera line-up for 2023 includes Bellini's La sonnambula, plus there's Handel’s baroque opera Orlando produced by the Liberata Collective and Ensemble Hesperi, directed by Adrian Butterfield.
We are postponing our production of Lully's Phaeton until 2024. In its place, we are thrilled to announce a Buxton International Festival production of Mozart's Il re pastore, conducted by BIF's Artistic Director Adrian Kelly. Il re pastore will be performed on Sunday 9, Thursday 13, Monday 17 and Thursday 20 July 2023 at 7.15pm.
Nicola Benedetti
We are excited to be welcoming Nicola Benedetti to BIF next year. She is one of the most sought after violinists of her generation and will be performing on Monday 10 July with English concert.
The full programme and festival brochure will be issued in March, with priority booking from 7 March 2023 and public booking opening on 4 April 2023.
Buxton International Festival 2023 - Read more
Jazz Weekender packages - Wynton Marsalis and Tom Seals headline
There are two tickets to choose from:
- Jazz Weekender Plus Entry to all BIF jazz gigs from Thursday 6 July until Monday 10 July PLUS entry to a very special book event (more details to come), AND the world premiere of new musical The Land Of Might-Have-Been.
- Jazz Weekender Entry to all BIF jazz gigs from Saturday 8 July - Monday 10 July PLUS entry to a very special book event (more details to come).
BOOK NOW - Jazz Weekender tickets
The Land Of Might-Have-Been
This bold new musical is built around the songs of Ivor Novello and is loosely based on incidents in the early life of Buxton’s pioneering feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain and the intriguing lives, loves and motivations of those closest to her. Public booking is NOW OPEN.
The Land Of Might-Have-Been, with book and lyrics by Michael Williams, follows on from the huge success of another Buxton-inspired triumph, Williams’ award-winning opera, Georgiana.
Give a Christmas gift with a difference! This early booking period proved very popular with our musical offering last year, with many taking the opportunity to purchase tickets as Christmas presents.
BOOK NOW - The Land of Might-Have-Been
Cinderella Goes on Tour in February 2023
‘An absolute joy. The best 75 minutes I’ve spent in ages”’ – The Guardian, Flora Wilson
‘The entire show is a treat’ – The Stage, George Hall
Buxton International Festival’s sell-out production of Pauline Viardot’s miniature operetta, Cinderella, is to tour in February 2023, the festival’s first ever touring production. The show which received five-star reviews at BIF in 2021, will visit:
- The Lowry, Salford Quays (Friday 3 and Saturday 4 February).
- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry (Tuesday 7 February).
- Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February).
- Norwich Theatre, Norwich (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February).
The family-friendly chamber opera, which stars seven singers and a pianist, will be directed by Laura Attridge and conducted by Iwan Davies with Nikki Martin in the title role and Camilla Seale as her Prince Charming. The simple but inspired production, designed by Anna Orton, is sung in French (with English surtitles) with English dialogue.
At 75 minutes long, this is a wonderful introduction to opera with sumptuous melodies, soaring vocal lines and much laughter and smiles.
BOOK NOW - Cinderella on tour 2023
Join BIF Friends and enjoy priority booking for the festival
Joining our community and becoming a BIF Friend unlocks a whole host of benefits, including priority booking for the festival.
From just £33 per year, become part of the festival you love year-round:
- Priority booking
- Six tiers of membership starting from just £33
- Regular newsletters during the year - via email/post
- Be the first to hear exclusive festival news & announcements
- Special friends events throughout the year: meals, dinners, recitals and more
- Support from friends members have enabled us to grow into one of the UK's leading opera festivals