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.
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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
Box Office | 01423 562 303
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
Booking Fees Apply
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
Flanders Symphony Orchestra
Concert by Candlelight: Armonica Consort
Friday 17th July | St Wilfrid’s Church | 8pm Rachmaninov Vespers “All-Night Vigil”, Op.37
Christopher Monks | Director
The critically acclaimed Armonico Consort returns to Harrogate with a performance of Rachmaninov’s deeply moving Vespers, marking its 100th anniversary. Performed by candlelight in the stunning surroundings of St Wilfrid’s Church, this performance promises an evening of those extraordinarily sublime melodies that have made the Vespers so timelessly poignant. ‘The listener can marvel at the singers’ superb breath control and rock steady intonation’ – Gramophone Magazine
Tickets: £20
Psycho Live! Live Screening with the Harrogate Festival Orchestra Saturday 18th July | Royal Hall | 8pm
Anthony Gabriele | Conductor Hitchcock’s Psycho is arguably one of the greatest movies of all time, made unforgettable by its thrilling and spine-tingling soundtrack. Join us for the screening of this iconic film with the soundtrack performed live by the Harrogate Festival Orchestra. Enjoy ground breaking cinema in the most beautiful screening room in town. Tickets: £30, £26, £22 Boxes: £75, £50
Mahan Esfahani
Thursday 23rd July | St Wilfrid’s Church | 8pm
Photo: Marko Borggreve
Out of Place, Out of Time Couperin Pieces in G minor WF Bach Sonata in E-flat, Fk. 3 Scarlatti 5 sonatas Bohuslav Martinu Sonata (1935) Elisabeth Maconchy Notebook for Harpsichord J.S. Bach Chromatische Fantasie & Fugue, BWV 903
Iranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani is hailed as the leading champion of his instrument and was the first harpsichordist to be a BBC New Generation Artist in 2008 – 2010. He takes us on a journey through time from Bach to the neo-classical music of Martinu exploring how the harpsichord has developed to create a new sense of place in the modern age. Tickets: £16
Booking Fees Apply
Harrogate Festival - Summer 2015 Highlights
Sunday 26th July | Royal Hall | 8pm Schubert Franck Chopin Brahms
Overture to “Rosamunde”, D. 644 Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante, Op.22 Symphony No.1 in C Minor, Op.68
Jan Latham-Koenig | Conductor Freddy Kempf | Piano For over fifty years, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra has been a beacon of the Flemish orchestral landscape, now led by the renowned conductor Jan Latham-Koenig.Performing with renowned pianist Freddy Kempf, the 50th Harrogate Festival finale concert closes with a programme featuring a wealth of great symphonic music including Brahms Symphony No.1, that first recognised Brahms at the head of the successors of those to Beethoven and was described as “Beethoven’s Tenth”. The symphony itself closes with a great affirmative and triumphant Finale, a fitting end to the 50th Harrogate Festival. Tickets: £34, £30, £28, £22, £18 Boxes: £74, £56
HOW TO BOOK Phone: 01423 562 303 Online: www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com In Person: Harrogate International Festivals, 32 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB Opening Times:
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Thursday 3rd July A Lecture with Alfred Brendel Royal Hall | 7.30pm
An Evening with Julian Lloyd Webber Royal Hall | 8pm
Friday 4th July John Wilson Orchestra Royal Hall | 8pm
Tues 14th & Wed 15th July Oddsocks Productions: Much Ado About Nothing
Saturday 5th July La Serenissima St. Wilfrids Church | 8pm
Thursday 16th July Miloš Royal Hall | 8pm
Thursday 9th July Quartetto Di Cremona Wesley Chapel | 8pm
Friday 17th July Young Musician: Martin James Bartlett Wesley Chapel | 12pm
Friday 10th July Artist in Residence: Saleem Ashkar Wesley Chapel | 8pm
Saturday 18th July Psycho Live! With The Harrogate Festival Orchestra Royal Hall | 8pm
Gregory Porter HIC Main Auditorium | 8pm
Thursday 23rd July Mahan Esfahani St Wilfrid’s Church | 8pm
Box Office | 01423 562 303
FESTIVAL NUMBER
50
Sunday 26th July Flanders Symphony Orchestra Royal Hall | 8pm Full Programme released March 2015
RAWORTHS HARROGATE LITERATURE FESTIVAL Summer 2015 Programme Thursday July 2 12:00pm Raworths Literary Lunch 3.30pm Emma Bridgewater 5:00pm Paul Heiney 6:30pm Bill Oddie 8:00pm Noddy Holder Friday July 3 5:00pm Dennis Skinner interviewed by Kevin Maguire 6:30pm Judy Finnigan In Conversation with Richard Madeley 8:00pm Dom Joly
Harrogate International Festivals is a registered charity, no. 244861. All information correct at time of going to print. Harrogate International Festivals reserves the right to make such alterations as may become necessary. Photographs: Fenris Oswin, Chris Hall & Matt Watson-Power.
HIGHLIGHTS | JULY 2015
Concert by Candlelight: Armonico Consort St Wilfrid’s Church | 8pm
Saturday 11th July A Masterclass with Julian Lloyd Webber Crown Hotel | 3pm
Sunday 12th July Polyphony Foundation Wesley Chapel | 3pm
Harrogate Festival
Saturday July 4 11:00am Robert Douglas Fairhurst - Alice in Wonderland brunch 12:30pm Robert Sackville West 2:00pm Lewis Dartnell 3:30pm Alan Johnson interviewed by Gerry Foley 5:00pm Gavin Esler 6:30pm Louis de Bernieres Sunday July 5 12:30pm Theodore Zeldin 2:00pm Sam Delaney 3.30pm Sadie Jones 5:00pm Sali Hughes 6:30pm Tracey Thorn
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Box Office 01423 562 303 www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com