A warm welcome to the 50th Harrogate International Festival Highlights
John Wilson Orchestra Presents Cole Porter in Hollywood Saturday 4th July | Royal Hall | 8pm
Plus special guests: Annalene Beechey, Anna Jane Casey, Matt Ford & Richard Morrison
Reaching the 50th Festival is a significant milestone and the journey to reach this landmark year has created a rich heritage from which to draw from with our celebratory programme. We welcome back living legend Alfred Brendel in addition to our Guest Curator Julian Lloyd Webber who began his career here at the Festivals as a Young Musician. Our theme A Sense of Place will take you on the expedition of a lifetime as we explore how great music and literature creates and communicates destinations, time and culture, from Cole Porter’s magical moviescape to exploring the power of classical music that is bridging divides between Arab and Jewish communities in Israel, with the Polyphony Foundation and our Artist in Residence, Saleem Ashkar. This highlights guide features just a few of our programme highlights for 2015 from jazz icon Gregory Porter to the magnificent Miloš, in addition to the world’s best international talent with orchestras & musicians from around the world. Look out for the full programme available in late March 2015, and we’re sure that whilst July 2015 may take you on an inspirational and exciting journey, the place you’ll want to be celebrating it is here in our wonderful location of Harrogate, with Harrogate International Festivals – the home of festivals. Sharon Canavar, Chief Executive
A Pianist’s Alphabet: A Lecture with Alfred Brendel Friday 3rd July | Royal Hall | 7.30pm
Alfred Brendel is one of the greatest pianists in the world whose place among the ultimate musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries is assured. It’s an honour to welcome back a music legend with his remarkable, A Pianist’s A to Z. In this special event Brendel distils a lifetime’s musical knowledge, from how to play Bach to when to cough during a recital, with a little love and humour along the way. Photo: Barbara Klemm
‘Alfred Brendel is one of the greatest pianists in the world’ – The Guardian
Tickets: £22, £20, £18, £15, £12 Boxes: £54, £36 Please note this event is a lecture.
Book Online | www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
One of the fastest selling acts of the Festival, John Wilson swings back into town with a sumptuous, sensational celebration of Cole Porter’s irresistible tunes from classic Hollywood movies. Allow yourself to be taken back in time with lush arrangements originally written for Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Peggy Lee in this sensational show! Tickets: £45*, £38, £32, £25 Boxes: £114, £76 *Meet the stars! Grand Circle tickets priced £45 include entrance to a post-show reception with the special guests of the show & John Wilson.
La Serenissima
Sunday 5th July | St Wilfrid’s Church | 8pm Programme highlights: Vivaldi The Four Seasons Vivaldi Concerto per violino in tromba marina, in D, RV 221 Vivaldi Concerto La Notte in B flat, RV 501
Adrian Chandler | Violin/Director Peter Whelan | Bassoon
Award winning ensemble and leading exponents of Vivaldi, La Serenissima presents a new rendition of Vivaldi’s infamous Four Seasons using parts in the hand of Vivaldi’s father, Giovanni Battista. Plus two of Vivaldi’s concertos for the violin in tromba marina, which has been recreated from evidence surviving in the archives of the Ospedale della Pietà. This is guaranteed to be a rare and unique concert experience. Tickets: £20
Quartetto Di Cremona
Thursday 9th July | Wesley Chapel | 8pm An Italian Journey Boccherini String Quartet No.6 in C, Op. 2 Respighi String Quartet No. 3 in D, P.53 Puccini “I Crisantemi” for String Quartet Verdi String Quartet in E minor
Cristiano Gualco | Violin Paolo Andreoli | Violin Simone Gramaglie | Viola Giovanni Scaglione | Cello Quartetto Di Cremona brings the essence of Italy to Harrogate with their programme - An Italian Journey. They create a sense of place through the exploration of bel canto, an Italian opera style, and how that concept of beautiful singing can also be heard in Italian instrumental music. The secret is in the bow, to make each characterful instrument find its voice and ‘sing’. Tickets: £18
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Artist in Residence: Saleem Ashkar Friday 10th July | Wesley Chapel | 8pm
Sense of Place: National Identity in Music Beethoven Sonata No. 28 in A, Op.101 Beethoven Sonata No. 31 in A-flat, Op.110 Chopin Ballade No.4, Op. 52 Medtner Theme and Variations for piano, Op.55 Bartok Piano Sonata, Sz. 80
The Festival is proud to present the PalestinianIsraeli pianist Saleem Ashkar as the 2015 Artist in Residence. Protégé of Daniel Barenboim, Ashkar performs a special programme exploring national identity in music that crosses cultural boundaries, alongside personal insights from his youth growing up in Nazareth. Tickets: £18
Gregory Porter
Saturday 11th July Harrogate International Centre Main Auditorium | 8pm Man of the moment Gregory Porter headlines the 50th Harrogate Festival. The charismatic Californian, who cites Nat King Cole as his biggest inspiration, has been hailed as a modern great with his gospelinfused jazz. Described as one of the most emotional and easily identifiable performers to have emerged in recent years, this Grammy award-winning singer with a voice of velvet is guaranteed to put the soul into your summer. ‘Porter sounds great, engages with audiences, and sings songs you can go away humming’ – The Guardian
Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20
An Evening with Julian Lloyd Webber Sunday 12th July | Royal Hall | 8pm Jaixin Cheng | Cello
Polyphony Foundation with Saleem Ashkar
Sunday 12th July | Wesley Chapel | 3pm Dvorak Piano Quntet No. 2, Op. 81 Wissam Joubran Piano Quintet Schostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57
Artist-in-Residence Saleem Ashkar continues his exploration of place and identity in music with the Polyphony Foundation. Based in Nazareth - its mission is to bring Arab and Israeli communities together through the common ground of music. Performing an eclectic programme including local composer Wissam Joubran, experience the uniting power of music first hand. Tickets: £15
Miloš
Thursday 16th July | Royal Hall | 8pm Programme highlights: Sor Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9 Regondi Rêverie Op. 19 Granados Danza Española No. 2 Oriental Bach Chaconne in D minor BWV1004 (arr. for guitar) De Falla Danza del Molinero (arr. Michael Lewin) Jobim Girl from Ipanema Velazquez Besame mucho Benjor Mas que nada Ginastera Sonata for solo guitar Op. 47
Since he topped the classical music charts in 2011 the Montenegrin guitarist Miloš Karadaglić has risen to stardom hailed as “the biggest classical-guitar phenomenon since John Williams” (The Times). Miloš effortlessly combines traditional classical pieces with pop classics from the 60’s and 70’s in a dazzling programme that champions the classical guitar in the 21st century. Tickets: £22, £20, £18, £15, £12 Boxes: £54, £36
Pam Chowan | Piano
Julian Lloyd Webber returns to Harrogate as guest curator for the 50th Harrogate Festival. This unforgettable night promises a musical journey into his extraordinary life, with music from wife and cellist, Jiaxin Cheng and pianist Pam Chowhan. Explore the musical highlights of his career from Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata through to Philip Glass. ‘It’s a significant place in my career and I’ve got a very good history with Harrogate’ – Julian Lloyd Webber
Tickets: £25, £22, £20, £18, £16 Boxes: £60, £40 Curated Events include: A Masterclass with Julian Lloyd Webber Sat 11th July | Crown Hotel | 3pm Young Musician: Jenna Sung | Thus 9th July | 12pm
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Young Musician: Martin James Bartlett Friday 17th July | Wesley Chapel | 12pm Mozart Rachmaninov Rachmaninov Rachmaninov Prokofiev
Piano Sonata No.12 in F, K.332 Prelude in B minor Op. 32 No. 10 Prelude in G major Op. 32 No. 5 Prelude in G sharp minor Op.32 No.12 Sonata No.7 in B flat minor, Op.83
A meteoric player, Martin began studying piano aged 8 at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, continuing to the Purcell School returning to RCM with a coveted Foundation Scholarship. In 2014 he won the BBC Young Musician Competition aged 17 - the year he also made his debut at the BBC Proms. Critics say he pours his heart and soul into captivating performances. Tickets: £10
Box Office | 01423 562 303