Budleigh Music Festival: 8-16 July


Classical music is once again returning to Budleigh this summer with a mix of internationally acclaimed performers and young musicians.

The Budleigh Music Festival runs between 8-16 July with lunchtime and evening concerts in St Peter’s Church. Organisers promise a host of spectacular music across many genres and played by musicians from diverse backgrounds.

On the opening night, Castalian Quarter is joined by clarinettist Michael Collins and the concert will include a festival commission from former artistic director Nicholas Marshall. Other highlights include violinist Chloe Hanslip, compered by Classic FM’s Jane Jones, and the Bath Philharmonia’s orchestral programme that includes Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

The Rising Stars Series features young pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason while violinist Ning Feng’s solo recital will include Paganini’s Caprices. Winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Eric Lu, will make his festival debut playing music from Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Frederic Chopin. There’ll be a complete performance of Bach’s Cello Suites with cellist Laura van Der Heijden. This will be held over two concerts lasting 75 minutes each with no interval.

Laura van Der Heijden will perform Bach’s Cello Suites

Hermes Experiment, which comprises players of the harp, clarinet, double bass and soprano, will perform at an event described as a bridge between a concert and a club night. Here you’ll be able to enjoy a selection of male and female composers from the 20th and 21st centuries The festival will finish with lyric soprano Danielle de Niece in an evening where she sings her favourite opera arias.

Decca’s Danielle de Niese will sing her favourite opera arias

Like in other years there will be some special events during the course of the festival. These include Norman Lebrecht, who writes the influential blog Slipped Disc, who will discuss the future of the music industry and a conducting masterclass from the festival’s artistic director Jason Thornton. And Colourscape is a family-friendly experience combining colour, light and music where you can walk through a large labyrinth of colour and light with interlinked chambers of intense colour lit by natural sunlight.

Some events will be accessible to the local deaf community with a British Sign Language interpreter at certain concerts.

The full programme of events is now available via Budleigh Music Festival. Tickets will be available to buy for Festival Friends from 16 May and on general sale on 6 June.


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