Opera festival toasts another bumper year

Nearly 40,000 people are estimated to have attended the 17-day arts showcase last month to enjoy the line-up of 140 opera, music, literary, family and free events.

And as well as receiving high praise from reviewers, the event was able to boast record audiences for its renowned literary series.

Executive Director, Randall Shannon, said the creative and economic impact of the festival on the town had been considerable.

He commented: “I am immensely proud of the quality of this year’s festival.

“Over 400 people, including internationally-renowned artists, musicians, writers, speakers, the festival team and valuable volunteers, as well as our valuable patrons, funders and sponsors, made this important cultural event possible.

“We look forward to welcoming local, national and international audiences to the 2015 event.”

The 2014 festival featured operas by Dvorak, Gluck, Rossini and HK Gruber, concerts featuring soprano Susan Bullock and Lesley Garrett, and performances by internationally famed pianists and string quartets.

The programme of 38 literary talks included speakers such as Jeffery Archer, Peter Snow, Gyles Brandreth, Shirley Williams, Ranulph Fiennes and Kate Adie.

In addition to the performances at Buxton’s historic opera house and the adjoining Pavilion Arts Centre, six jazz events in the Pavilion Café proved a popular draw, as were the selection of free events in the Pavilion Gardens.

Stephen Barlow, the festival’s artistic director, added: “We are already planning our 2015 programme which will again feature a celebration of opera, music and literature, delivering established artistry and writers with the best of emerging talent.”