Award winning performers at Buxton Festival

Debussy And His Muse

The Story of Achille Debussy and Blanche Vasnier in words and music

Written and Performed by Gillian Keith, Soprano

Accompanied by Simon Lepper, piano

Directed by Nina Brazier — Debussy And His Muse The Story of Achille Debussy and Blanche Vasnier in words and music Written and Performed by Gillian Keith, Soprano Accompanied by Simon Lepper, piano Directed by Nina Brazier

Performances will be held in Buxton Opera House, the Pavilion Arts Centre, St John’s Church and the Pavilion Cafe.

Singers with international profiles including Roderick Williams (star of the Last Night Of the Proms in 2014), sopranos Soraya Mafi, Rosalind Coad and Gillian Keith and tenor BenJohnson will perform work from a wide range of composers.

Audiences can also experience performances from ensembles including the Halle Soloists, Schubert Ensemble, Fitzwilliam String Quartet and Elias String Quartet.

Festival favourites La Serenissima will perform The Four Seasons featuring parts which were handwritten by Vivaldi’s father and housed in the Henry Watson Library, Manchester.

The festival features international award-winning pianists Stephen Hough and Mei Yi Foo as wellas up and coming talent Eudald Buch, Samson Tsoy & Pavel Kolesnikov, who will perform piecesfrom many composers including Rachaminov, Bach and Debussy.

Jazz from the Alex Yellowlees Band, James Pearson Trio featuring Lizzie Ball, Chetham’s JazzEnsemble and BBC One Show favourite Jay Rayner will in late night shows in the Pavilion Café.

The packed programme also includes Huddersfield Choral Society and the chance to hear distinguished violinists, guitarists, brass quintets, harpists and a unique musical mash-up of lutes and ukuleles.

Randal Shannon, the festival’s executive director, said: “ We are delighted by ticket sales and encourage people to book as performances are selling out. We are grateful to our sponsors and supporters who help us make the festival possible. We look forward to welcoming audiences from Buxton and across the country to this great event.”

Stephen Barlow, the festival’s artistic director, added: “It’s always our intention to promote younger artists every year as well, and I’m proud of the number we have attracted this year of the next generation star performers”.

You can also enjoy a free al fresco Festival Song at Six from members of the Festival Chorus on the Pavilion Gardens Bandstand at 6pm. The ten-minute recital will take place daily from Sunday, July 12, until Saturday, July 25.

Those under 30 years of age are eligible for the ‘Festival for a Fiver’ scheme. Tickets costing £5 on all available seats including operas can be booked at the box office in person, proof of age must be provided.

The festival also features family and free events.

To book, contact www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or call 01298 72190.