ISSUE TWO – October 2016
The newsletter for Friends & Supporters of Buxton Festival
OVERTURE ISSUE TWO
November 2016
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2017’S OPERAS
Buxton Festival 2016 – ‘a wonderfully concentrated feast of culture’
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OVERTURE
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Welcome
Randall Shannon Executive Director
The audience reaction to Buxton Festival 2016 both during and since July has been gratifyingly positive. We are delighted with the response to our opera productions and to the Festival as a whole, and hope you concur with the review excerpts included in this Newsletter. Now, having emerged from the all-consuming intensity of the Festival in July we move forwards to create, discuss and finalise plans for 2017. During the coming months we will be adding details to our website as they are confirmed as well as distributing e-newsletters to whet your appetite for the delights ahead. If you are not receiving our e-newsletters, please let us have your email address. This year’s Festival was an important step forward for us as we presented three fully-staged Buxton Festival productions: of Beethoven’s Leonore, Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Handel’s Tamerlano. Raising the resources with which to produce this most expensive of artforms is an ongoing and endless challenge, and we achieved three productions this year only through the support of two outstandingly generous donors. In 2017 we are again producing three: Verdi’s Macbeth, Mozart’s Lucio Silla and Britten’s Albert Herring –about which Stephen Barlow offers his thoughts in the following pages. As ever, if you are in a position to offer support or to point us towards a possible source, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Opera 2017
BOOK WEEKEND
Stephen Barlow looks forward to Macbeth, Albert Herring and Lucio Silla pages 03–05
FRIENDS EVENTS Join us for a range of cultural get-togethers page 09–10
Something for everyone this November page 06
Remembering 2016 Highlights of the this summer’s Festival page 11–15
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
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Festival operas 2017 Artistic Director Stephen Barlow looks ahead to the next year
Macbeth
Albert Herring
Lucio Silla
(1847 Firenze version)
(1947)
(1772)
Conducted by Justin Doyle, pictured Directed by Francis Matthews
Conducted by Laurence Cummings, pictured Directed by Harry Silverstein
Verdi
Conducted by Stephen Barlow, pictured Directed by Elijah Moshinsky
MACBETH Verdi’s career clearly shows three periods of development and inspiration, described as early, middle and late. As with Beethoven, when Verdi was a younger composer, he composed tightly within forms that were prevalent where he was brought up, studied and was inspired by, forms that Rossini took to their apogee, the famous Bel Canto era. Macbeth belongs to Verdi’s early period. But whilst keeping to the structures and aesthetics of bel canto the composer was beginning to develop innovations in colour through his inspired orchestration and in psychological insight, and breaking down formal aria and cabaletta for greater dramatic
Britten
effect. Drama was Verdi’s primary interest, exciting visceral theatre his aim. Macbeth follows the well known doom-laden story and elicits from the composer some of his most electric music within a frequently frightening soundscape. For the Festival I have chosen the very first original version of this opera, premiered in Florence in a smallish theatre not unlike the Buxton Opera House. When the opera was performed in Paris, as usual the opera house management and their audiences demanded ballets and much more flamboyance. But the concise original version is more powerfully taut, and less often performed now which is a great shame. Elijah Moshinsky who made his worldwide reputation with his
Mozart
productions of Verdi, especially the earlier works, will direct for us. In their pomp at the ROH Elijah and his revered colleague Edward Downes especially wished to produce this version there, but it never happened. I’m delighted that we can to some extent put the record straight by producing this lesser known version in Buxton, with a wonderful cast and with all the drama writ large in the intimacy of our special opera house. I am looking forward personally to conducting this production enormously, having conducted often many of Verdi’s operas but not Macbeth.
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ALBERT HERRING Albert Herring certainly is the greatest comic opera of the 20th century. It is a truly comic work, telling the story of rural country life, but with a loving hand and considerable depth of feeling too. Benjamin Britten was happiest when he settled finally into Snape near Aldeburgh in Suffolk, and unlike many composers who preferred the bright lights of a successful city with the appropriate opera house, concert halls and audiences, dug deep into the society around him in all walks of life. Herring, written in Snape during 1946 and 1947, when post-war strictures and economies were painfully necessary is above all else a celebration of difference between people living in close proximity, but who nonetheless share common understandings in the face of possible tragedy. Along the way, his deft hand at characterisation and a warmth that he found difficult to show in his own normal day to day life and relationships pervade. Britten never seems to lose a sense of joy in his wonderfully fertile imagination. For a musician, turning each page of this score is a delight, as organic story telling unfurls like flowing water, but at the same time one is aware of a world being drawn through music that is believable and natural. This masterpiece is both theatre and music hand in glove, a play that is sung. Francis Matthews who directed Tamerlano for the 2016 Festival with such exquisite grace and beauty will direct this production, and his theatre pedigree allied with his innate
musicality will be perfect. Justin Doyle will conduct a work which he knows well, having had great success with a recent production elsewhere. Justin brought great elegance and sensitivity to Buxton’s Capuleti this summer. The cast is simply quite outstanding, including some of this country’s most experienced artists. These three masterly works of music drama constitute an opera Festival of great charm as well as the power to move and provoke the imagination. LUCIO SILLA Mozart was only 16 when he wrote Lucio Silla, but in his exceptional case ‘only’ is hardly the right word. It appears that he also conducted the first performances and this would not have been anything of a surprise to anyone involved or the audiences. Mozart’s early mastery simply dazzles and bemuses us
these days, and seems precocious. But his completely magisterial command of all aspects of technique allied with an uncanny perceptive understanding of human psychology and music’s power to suggest frames of mind beyond simple fury, despair or love, defies everyday assumptions of the callowness of any kind of youth. Lucio Silla is a thrillingly virtuosic work, full of brilliance and affecting beauty, rarely performed and even more rarely staged. Glimpses of his later works are here, the flashes of inspiration that place him as primus inter pares in the pantheon of composers who made opera not only into paeans of humanism but also the ultimate theatrical experience. Directing Lucio Silla will be the widely experienced American director Harry Silverstein, and Laurence Cummings will return to conduct following his beautifully realised Tamerlano for us this last summer.
STEPHEN BARLOW Artistic Director, Buxton Festival
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
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Our artistic legacy Helen Bailey receives the inaugural ‘Buxton Festival Young Artists Bursary’
Helen Bailey as the title role in the Leonore cover show this summer
Providing opportunities for Young Artists in the appropriate development of their careers is a fundamental responsibility of all those in the creative arts, and Buxton Festival has long been championing the best young talent with pleasure and commitment. This year, thanks to the generous support of the members of the Directors Circle, we established the ‘Buxton Festival Young Artists Bursary’. The bursary will be annually awarded to an outstanding member of the Festival chorus to assist in the further development of their career. I am very pleased to announce that the 2016 Bursary has been awarded to Helen Bailey. Helen is one of most talented young sopranos of her age. I have known her now for four years, and recognise in her a rare balance between selfknowledge, aspiration, musicality and technique. I invited her to join the Buxton Festival’s chorus as a young artist after audition as she is exceptional in every way.
Her commitment to work is without flaw; her work ethic is mature and grounded. She is highly motivated towards study and observation and for Buxton Festival has understudied both major roles Giovanna d’Arco and Leonore attracting high praise from music staff and audiences alike. Her preparation was outstanding, and stylistically, vocally, musically and dramatically she commanded these roles completely. As a consequence of my high regard for her and her promise for the future I have cast Helen in the principal role of ‘Dama’ in Macbeth for the 2017 Festival. Vocally, she is hugely gifted and wise beyond her years, nurturing her development carefully but purposefully, and keenly aware of the necessities of foundation and experience. I have no doubt at all that she has a good career in front of her over a wider repertoire than most. Her plans for further study at present allied with carefully chosen oratorio and opera roles, including her own small opera production company and childcare seem absolutely appropriate. I had no doubt that Helen was an obvious choice for the inaugural ‘Buxton Festival Young Artists Bursary’ and she sets a high standard for all future bursary winners.
STEPHEN BARLOW Artistic Director, Buxton Festival
Receiving the ‘Buxton Festival Young Artists Bursary’ is a great honour, and will be used wisely to assist my career. It will enable me to afford regular singing lessons with my teacher, Elizabeth Ritchie, plus specialised coaching sessions with Kathryn Harries, National Opera Studio. It has always been a desire of mine to produce a ‘proper’ demo recording, which this bursary will fund. The demo will form the centre of a promotion pack and, together with new headshots, my CV and biography, will hopefully help me to gain more auditions and engagements. Being part of Buxton Festival over the last two years has been a huge lifeline for me, both personally and professionally. My musicianship, stagecraft, and confidence have grown enormously as a result of working with such a talented and enthusiastic team, and I am thrilled to be returning next year to the Buxton family to sing the role of ‘Dama’ in Macbeth, as well as joining the wonderful chorus. HELEN BAILEY Soprano
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Sponsor in the Spotlight Ecclesiastical looks back on a memorable Buxton Festival
Paul Williams, National Sales Manager at Ecclesiastical Insurance and Randall Shannon, Executive Director at Buxton Festival on the set of Leonore
It was with great pleasure that Ecclesiastical sponsored the 2016 Buxton Festival. Our sponsorship of the Festival has been a tremendous opportunity for us to meet with people who are passionate about the arts and opera in particular. The Festival gave us the pleasure of access to a unique opera in Beethoven’s Leonore plus several pre-opera events – the most special being at Chatsworth House in June. During these many events, we met extremely talented performers and passionate members and friends of the Festival together with a fantastic and hard-working organising committee. In getting to know the overtures of Leonore better, we learned how Beethoven worked tirelessly, over a decade, to perfect each one. We were reminded of the history of insurance which has evolved over the decades to better suit customers’ needs. Ecclesiastical too has changed over time, from humble beginnings of providing fire cover to churches to the present day where we protect Britain’s heritage and art. Since our foundation in 1887, we have
used the specialist knowledge and expertise of our people to keep the irreplaceable safe. While our business and sector has seen much change, some things stay constant for us – honesty and integrity – which continue to earn us the trust of our customers who allow us to protect the homes, buildings and possessions that mean so much to them. Ecclesiastical was originally founded to protect Anglican churches and church buildings against the risk of fire. Today, we still protect churches – more than 16,000 of them across the UK – however we also protect much more. We insure more Grade I listed buildings than any other UK insurer and are trusted by more than 40,000 charities and over 40% of independent schools who choose us as their insurer. We also protect the homes of many individuals across the country from residential heritage properties through to contemporary modern builds and everything in between, providing expert cover for their contents, art collections and jewellery. We employ and work with experienced and qualified surveyors,
art historians, valuation experts, risk managers, craftspeople and heritage experts. We’re an organisation that advises and supports our customers who are custodians of important buildings such as palaces, churches, Grade I listed buildings and heritage and contemporary homes. The nature of our work means that a passion for heritage, the arts and culture lies at the heart of our business. As a supporter of Britain’s arts, crafts and heritage, Ecclesiastical was proud to be associated with the celebration of Leonore and the Buxton Festival itself. It was a summer of many special moments. Everyone at Ecclesiastical who took part in attending many of the Festival events would like to extend their thanks and congratulations to the Buxton Festival Company. We wish everyone associated with the Festival a long and successful future. If you are interested in learning more about Ecclesiastical’s products or services, please contact your insurance broker or financial advisor. www.ecclesiastical.com
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
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Buxton Festival Book Weekend This November, we’ll be presenting our third annual Book Weekend. From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 November, we’ll be welcoming a great line-up of authors and personalities with fascinating stories to tell.
There’ll be an evening with TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle, talking about his life and career and his love of the classic Land Rover, academic, author and feminist pioneer Germaine Greer on The Disappearing Woman, legendary broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg presenting his spectacular historical novel, based around the events of the Peasants’ Revolt; former National Trust chairman Simon Jenkins on the beauty and history of England’s cathedrals and columnist Matthew Parris on the witty art of the put-down.
For those looking for insights into the quirky, popular science comedian Helen Keen (of BBC Radio 4’s It Is Rocket Science) turns a humorous eye on the science of Game of Thrones, or you can enter the world of The Odditorium, an inspiring medley of Antarctic exploration, literary hoaxes, wild avant-garde art, time travel and the world’s largest underground temple, based on the popular podcast of the same name.
Finally, you can join us for the ever-popular Literary Lunch at the Old Hall Hotel, featuring biographer Matthew Dennison on the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter, acclaimed critic and author Marina Warner delves into the world of fairy tale and Clare Hartwell uncovers Derbyshire’s architectural wonders. Also during the weekend, we celebrate the talent and inspiration of entrants from around the world in the prize giving for Buxton Festival’s annual Poetry Competition.
Tickets for the Book Weekend can be obtained from the Buxton Opera House Box Office on 01298 72190 or online at buxtonfestival.co.uk
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FRIENDS AT THE CENTRE CHAIRMAN’S LETTER TO FRIENDS It was a particular pleasure for me, at my first Festival as Chairman, to be able to meet and talk with so many of you in person. I also managed to communicate both before and after the Festival with those of you on email – cf. the exhortation below for as many of you as possible to let us have your email address. I’d just like briefly to repeat a couple of things that I said by email. Firstly, this year’s Festival was up there with the best that Buxton has ever produced. It all left a very warm glow. So please spread the word. Buxton will be a great place to be in July 2017. And please do all that you can to swell our audiences and Friends membership. Many of you told me that you’d brought a friend along with you to Buxton – could you please try gently to sign them up, along with anyone else you think could become a keen supporter and Friend. And, if you now have a greater sense than
ever that the Buxton Festival is a treasure to be sustained, please consider whether you can be even more generous with your own level of membership as renewals fall due in November. See the message from Judy, our Membership Secretary, below. You really can boast about the importance and success of the Friends. This year we have exceeded our target (of £185k) and been able to hand £200,000 over to the Festival company. This is an amazing achievement, down entirely to the generosity of the Festival Friends. I hope you all feel a huge sense of satisfaction in the knowledge of the vital contribution that we make. Meanwhile, the Friends Committee has been busy. As you know, we have managed to find a new holiday promoter in John Whibley. We have just held a very successful fundraising event at the home of
two of our members, Chris and Stephen Grime, in Disley; this event raised over £2,300 and our gratitude goes to all who supported it. We now have a full, varied and attractive programme of events planned for 2017. I look forward to meeting many more of you on these occasions and, of course, at our next AGM on Friday 10 February. We think constantly about how to enhance and improve the experience of being a Friend, both over the year and at the Festival itself, so please let me have any suggestions, ideas or, indeed, offers – either by post or email or in person at one of our events. It simply remains for me to thank you all again most sincerely for your unstinting support of the Festival and the Friends. David Brindley Chairman friendschairman@ buxtonfestival.co.uk
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
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UPDATES
Our Chatsworth hosts, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and our Patron, Donald Maxwell, with the Chairman, David Brindley
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS Mailings through the post are extremely expensive and have to be few and far between. Emails are cost and time free and give us flexibility in contacting you – though we promise not to bombard you! Please help us by making sure that we have your email address. If we don’t yet have it, just send an email with ‘My email address’ in the Subject box to friends@ buxtonfestival.co.uk and confirm your name, post code and email address. Thank you. Forget snail mail – Let email take the strain!
CHATSWORTH JUNE 2016
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Thank you to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and all our members who came along and supported our fundraising event at Chatsworth. The event was a sell out and raised a wonderful £2,642 to support the Festival.
We have five levels of membership to offer: Friend, Gold Friend, Patron, Benefactor and Directors Circle. Your membership of the Friends is due for renewal on 1 November and I very much hope you will be continuing your support and perhaps considering upgrading your membership to the next level. If you wish to contact me to find out how this is possible I would be delighted to hear from you with any membership-related questions.
CAN YOU HOST AN EVENT FOR THE FRIENDS OF BUXTON FESTIVAL? If you able to host a Friends event to raise funds for the Festival, we would love to hear from you. We are always looking for new local venues but we are equally keen to see Friends events held further afield – we are, after all, a nationwide organisation. The event can be as modest as a tea party or something more lavish, possibly even including a performance of some sort. We will be only too happy to help you to organise and publicise your event.
Judy Barker Membership Secretary friendsmembership@ buxtonfestival.co.uk
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ISSUE TWO – October 2016
RNCM SONGSTERS Mottram Hall Hotel, Mottram Friday 21 April, 11.30am
FRIENDS EVENTS 2017
All members are most welcome to attend. If you wish to stand for election to become a Trustee of the Friends of Buxton Festival or to nominate a fellow member with their consent, please ensure you contact the Friends’ Secretary by 20 January. You can do this by email: friends@buxtonfestival.co. uk or by post to: 3 The Square, Buxton SK17 6AZ.
Come and join us for our inaugural event at Mottram Hall, a luxury country house hotel surrounded by parkland in the glorious Cheshire countryside. On arrival you will be welcomed with a glass of Bucks Fizz before you take your seat for a concert given by the RNCM Songsters, a talented group of singers from the Royal Northern College of Music. Following the concert a lunch will be provided in the St Andrew’s Suite. Members wishing to stay at Mottram Hall can book a room directly with the hotel by calling 01625 828 135. The hotel offers first-class spa treatments and its very own championship-level golf course. Places cost £55 each including Bucks Fizz Reception, Concert and Lunch.
AGM LUNCH
COFFEE MORNING TALK
All these events are bookable using the enclosed form, or via buxtonfestival.co.uk/ friends-events
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Old Hall Hotel, Buxton Friday 10 February 10.30am coffee, 11am AGM
Old Hall Hotel, Buxton Friday 10 February, 12.30pm Come and join other Friends following the AGM for lunch in the delightful restaurant at the Old Hall Hotel. A three-course lunch with a glass of wine. Places cost £30 each.
Upstairs at 6 The Square, Buxton Wednesday 3 May 10.30am coffee, 11am Talk Music, people, money – the challenges and rewards of running an orchestra by Simon Webb, General Manager of the BBC Philharmonic Come and find out more about how this wonderful orchestra is run from the person in charge. Places £8 each.
OPERA STUDY DAY Thursday 4 May Old Hall Hotel, Buxton 10am–3.15pm The Opera Study Day has become an established and popular part of our event calendar for members wishing to widen their knowledge of opera. The day will be an opportunity to hear three eminent speakers giving lectures on next year’s Festival productions. A three-course lunch will also be available. Places for the Study Day are limited to 40 so please book early to avoid disappointment. Places including lunch £40 and without lunch £25.
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA RECITAL Moorcroft House, Buxton Friday 5 May, 11.30am Those who attended our last recital at Moorcroft House will still have fond memories of the lovely recital given by the talented singers from the ETO productions. We have linked up again with English Touring Opera to offer members an opportunity to join us for what is sure to be another memorable occasion. Come and join us for coffee, cake and music at Moorcroft House just across the park from the Opera House. Places cost £15 including coffee/tea.
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
MUSIC AND SUPPER
MUSIC AND LUNCH
David Mellor Design Museum nr Hathersage Wednesday 17 May, 6.30pm
Upper House, Hayfield Wednesday 21 June, 12 noon
We are delighted to have been invited to hold our first event at the David Mellor Design Museum. The museum showcases the full historic collection of work of David Mellor, one of the best known 20th century British designers, and that of his son, Corin Mellor – extending from marvellous examples of handmade silver cutlery to the traffic lights we stop at every day. As a special privilege to our members the museum shop will stay open and offer a 20% discount off all David Mellor designs. We will offer you a welcome drink on arrival. The evening’s entertainment will be provided by Trio Volant, an excellent wind trio from the Royal Northern College of Music. We end the evening with supper. Places cost £50 each including supper.
We return to the stunning setting of Upper House at the foothills of Kinder Scout. Affording spectacular views across the High Peak, this has to be one of the most tranquil of houses we visit, miles away from civilisation yet only a few miles out of the village of Hayfield. We will start with a drinks reception in the Courtyard before we move across to the Great Hall, which has been sympathetically renovated and now boasts new banqueting chairs for added comfort. We have organised the Septentrion Duo from the Royal Northern College of Music to give us a harp recital, to be followed by a buffet lunch. For ease of our guests we will be providing free mini bus transfers from The Sportsman’s public house in Hayfield up to the house. Places cost £35 each.
RECITAL AND LUNCH Cressbrook Hall, Cressbrook Sunday 10 September, 11.30am
It has been 10 years since we last held an event at Cressbrook Hall and we are thrilled to be able to return in the autumn of 2017 for a recital with musicians from the Northern Chamber Orchestra
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followed by lunch. Those who know Cressbrook Hall will know what a unique place it is; a muchloved home to its owners, and a special place in the memories of all those who visit. We hope you will be able to join us at this truly breathtaking location in the glorious Derbyshire Peak District, overlooking a magnificent gorge created by the River Wye. Cressbrook is a short drive away from Buxton. Places cost £45 including lunch.
MEMBERS’ COMPETITION Win a spa day at Mottram Hall for two people Day use for 2 guests of the leisure facilities and UK’s first Alfresco ThermoSpace. One 30 minute treatment per guest with a choice of the following: Head, back & shoulder massage; Personalised facial; Manicure or Pedicure Answer the following question to be in for a chance of winning: How many acres of grounds is Mottram Hall located in? a) 250, b) 270, c) 320 To enter this competition please email or send us your answer on a postcard along with your name and address by 25 November 2016. This competition is for members of the Friends of Buxton Festival only. We will not acknowledge receipt of your entry and the winner will be notified by 2 December. Send your answer to: friends@buxtonfestival.co.uk or Friends of Buxton Festival, 3 The Square, Buxton SK17 6AZ
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What the critics said… ‘Buxton Festival at its best... Francis O’Connor’s panelled set springs some ingenious surprises, and Medcalf fills the narrative with enriching incident and nuance... The youthful chorus is absolutely first-class. All praise to Stephen Barlow whose conducting of the Northern Chamber Orchestra combines ferocity with warmth and grandeur.’
LEONORE
bbbb Rupert Christiansen, Telegraph ‘... there’s a commitment here on the part of the Buxton singers, orchestra and chorus that is frequently impressive... The impassioned Kirstin Sharpin hurls herself at Leonore’s demanding notes – even more difficult in this version than in the later one – while David Danholt’s Florestan is similarly bold and bracing.’ George Hall, The Guardian ‘... on balance, the case for Leonore is proved. ... The singers are a strong team, with young David Danholt making an extremely good impression as Florestan and Kirstin Sharpin bringing a big voice and control over most of it to Leonore. ... Stephen Barlow drew generally excellent playing from the Northern Chamber Orchestra, whose sound fills this lovely small opera house ideally, and the chorus, with its large extra male contingent, sang very well’
bbbb Robert Beale, The ArtsDesk
‘In the pit Stephen Barlow... and the orchestra relished the virtuosity and pace of this earlier version. ... There was a nice period feel to the overall orchestral playing which was nice, and some lovely individual instrumental solos... It was good to hear the overture Leonore No. 2 in an operatic context for once, and Barlow’s performance with the Northern Chamber Orchestra admirably set the scene.’
bbbb Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill
‘It is ideal Festival fare, especially when staged, conducted and sung with such excellence as was achieved on this opening night. On the rostrum Stephen Barlow conducted with drama and flare as befitted the various situations, lyric and dramatic. … Kirstin Sharpin has a big voice in the making, a Brünnhilde in the future I guess. … As her imprisoned husband Florestan, David Danholt fielded a strong lyric tenor tone with a touch of baritonal hue that was up to the vocal demands of his opening lines and the dramatic remainder of act three. A notable achievement for both the singers and the casting department!’ Robert J Farr, Seen & Heard International
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
‘Deftly choreographed, Buxton’s chorus of 16 suggests a far greater number of soldiers and rebel forces, their movements quick, decisive and violent, their singing clean, with a rapt off-stage Pace alla tua bell’amina. ... Under Justin Doyle’s direction the Northern Chamber Orchestra deliver a heated overture, easing into elegantly arpeggiated accompaniments. ... the singing of Brandon, Marshall and Gomes is idiomatic, intelligent and expressive.’
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I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI
bbbb Anna Picard, The Times ‘Sarah-Jane Brandon’s supple soprano moves around Giulietta’s notes with easy but emphatic command. She’s nobly partnered by Stephanie Marshall’s resolute Romeo, himself challenged by Portuguese tenor Luis Gomes as his half-flaky enemy Tebaldo, whose thrilling top register places him at the epicentre of a volatile situation constantly teetering on the edge of open violence. With Buxton’s orchestra and chorus on pugnacious form, conductor Justin Doyle maintains musical as well as dramatic momentum.’ George Hall, The Guardian
‘This wasn’t a production full of swords and elegant renaissance outfits, but it was sympathetic to Bellini and Romani’s drama, and you never felt that Fehr and Thavoris were trying to pull the piece out of shape. And despite the modernisms, the production had its own real sense of elegance. But the opera really stands or falls by its principals, and the three young leads, supported by an excellent ensemble, really made the drama a personal one.’
bbbbb Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill
‘Harry Fehr’s modern-dress I Capuleti e i Montecchi … worked especially well in Yannis Thavoris’s ingenious military camp-cumpalazzo setting ... Sarah-Jane Brandon’s Giulietta was the pick of the cast, singing Oh quante volte with a refined Sutherlandesque cantilena … while Luis Gomes brought a verismo-like virility to Tebaldo ... The hit of the festival.’ Hugh Canning, Sunday Times ‘It’s a bel canto opera, and in Stephanie Marshall and SarahJane Brandon Buxton has hired singers fit for purpose. Their voices shone individually and blended in their duets ... Justin Doyle ... piloted the opera with a sure hand, with flexible and energetic rhythms and some beautiful instrumental solos from the NCO.’
bbbb Robert Beale, The ArtsDesk
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‘Far more than just a sequence of gorgeous arias, this was an engrossing evening of psychological theatre, all concerned really brought out the underlying themes of Handel’s drama. … I do hope that this production does not disappear after the four performances at Buxton, it deserves to be seen again.’
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TAMERLANO
bbbbb Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill ‘Laurence Cummings’ English Concert produced a supple, golden sound that managed to combine constant drama with delicacy. Stylish playing and real impetus prevented the work from being ponderous and was the finishing touch to a production of Baroque excellence.’
bbbb Dominic Lowe, Bachtrack
THE GOLDEN DRAGON ‘The cast has just five singers who swap roles and gender from scene to scene and, in McCarthy’s wonderfully inventive and direct production (designed by Simon Banham), give them a cartoon-like vividness. … Every member of the MTW cast is wonderfully committed and focused. … It’s a taut, impressive piece, brilliantly presented.’
bbbb Andrew Clements, Guardian
‘Immaculately rehearsed, Music Theatre Wales’s performance is exemplary in its clarity and simplicity. Michael McCarthy’s staging calls on the audience’s imagination and Simon Banham’s witty design wastes nothing on fancy detail: Geoffrey Paterson’s conducting of a superb band is flawless. Llio Evans, Lucy Schaufer, Andrew Mackenzie-Wicks, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts and Johnny Herford make a seamless ensemble, notable both for its spirited acting and its excellent diction.’
bbbb Rupert Christiansen, Telegraph
ISSUE TWO – October 2016
What you said… Never mind the critics, reviews that really matter
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News highlights Secretary of State at the Festival
OPERA ‘Music Theatre Wales was exciting and so well done’ ‘More better young voices, especially Owen Willets and Sarah Jane Brandon, but also many good older singers.’
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‘All 3 of the operas we saw and they were good quality and worth seeing. An investment in the Festival’s own productions seems worth it.’
We were honoured that Karen Bradley, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Sport, Culture and the Arts chose Buxton Festival as her first cultural visit just a week into her appointment. She attended a performance of Leonore and was introduced to the cast.
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BOOKS ‘Thoroughly enjoyed A is for Arsenic and delighted to speak to Hugh Fraser afterwards.’
‘Talk by D J Taylor was one of the best I have attended at any literary festival’ ‘The lecture on Shakespeare language was super.’
MUSIC The Gesualdo performance was very fine. The recital by Jackie Campbell was “mind-blowing” and the Elias quartet excellent.
“ mindblowing”
Claire at the Proms We were excited to see one of our 2015 choristers, mezzo Claire Barnett-Jones featured as one of the up-and-coming singers featured in the performance of Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music at the Last Night of the Proms.
BUXTON FESTIVAL BOOK WEEKEND Friday 18– Sunday 20 November
FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER
MELVYN BRAGG Presents his spectacular historical novel
GERMAINE GREER The Disappearing Woman
LITERARY LUNCH Featuring Matthew Dennison on Beatrix Potter, Marina Warner on fairy tales and Clare Hartwell on the architecture of Derbyshire
WILLIAM SITWELL Eggs or Anarchy; The man who fed the nation at war BUXTON POETRY COMPETITION PRIZE GIVING Hear this year’s winning poems AN EVENING WITH BEN FOGLE Box Office: 01298 72190 buxtonfestival.co.uk
SIMON JENKINS England’s Cathedrals; an enthralling tour of the nation and its history
DAVID TEMPLEMAN MATTHEW PARRIS Mary Queen of Scots Scorn; The art of the putdown HELEN KEEN The Science of Game of Thrones THE ODDITORIUM An inspiring medley of Antarctic exploration, literary hoaxes, art and time travel