The full programme for the 2019 Swaledale Festival has been revealed.
The 2019 Swaledale Festival will run from 25 May to 8 June.
This year’s line-up includes violinist Tasmin Little, the flamenco guitarist Paco Peña, baritone Roderick Williams, the Armonico Consort performing Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, Kathryn Tickell’s new supergroup The Darkening, the Villiers String Quartet and the Esbjerg Ensemble from Denmark.
The festival welcomes the current BBC Young Musician of the Year – pianist Lauren Zhang, as well as former winners Jennifer Pike and Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
As well as stars from around the world, there is a strong Yorkshire focus: the 2019 Young Artists Platform features baritone Miles Taylor, bass trombonist Simon Chorley, bassoonist Catriona McDermid, saxophonist Alexander Bone and visual artist Nel Hume, all of whom are Yorkshire-born and destined for glittering careers.
Continuing the Yorkshire theme, Ripon Cathedral organist Andrew Bryden will give a recital in Richmond’s parish church, Trouvère Medieval Minstrels will perform their family show Reynard the Fox, and a local trio will celebrate two old-time squeeze-box players from Swaledale in It’s a Very Old Dance.
As always, local brass bands, folk groups, choirs and visual artists will add flavours which can only come from this beautiful place.
The Weaver Ensemble, which performed the stunning Loves of Mars & Venus a couple of years ago, will unveil their new production The Fairest Lady in Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal, and the 2019 Reeth Lecture will be given by language expert Professor David Crystal on the subject of English accents.
World cinema makes a significant appearance: independent films from Palestine and Chile will be accompanied by expert talks, they’ll be a screening of an iconic Flamenco dance film, and an early French art film will be accompanied by a live score for two pianists by Eric Satie.
The festival is launching a special endangered instruments focus in which expert players will perform concerts and visit local schools to showcase their instruments and encourage children to try them out.
The festival will also help youngsters to access live performances, hire or buy instruments, and receive good quality tuition.
The festival has commissioned a major new work from the influential composer Alexander Goehr – his 5th String Quartet. Professor Goehr will attend the world premiere which will be performed by the Villiers Quartet.
The 2019 Festival will also contain family events, workshops, a masterclass, poetry readings, free concerts in care homes, a fell run, and guided walks in the stunning Dales landscape.
The award-winning Swaledale Festival takes place in a variety of venues in the Yorkshire Dales and tickets go on general sale on Monday 25 March.
For further information visit www.swalefest.org
