Swaledale Festival - Days Out Leaflets

Welcome to the 2009 Swaledale Festival!
The Swaledale Festival is a feast of classical, folk, choral, brass
band, jazz and world music, visual art, poetry, drama, comedy,
talks, guided walks, workshops and masterclasses. For two weeks
in the beautiful northern Dales you can listen to the BBC’s Young
Musician of the Year, remember Humphrey Lyttelton, laugh out
loud at Ian McMillan and The Mandolinquents, marvel at Gwilym
Simcock’s piano playing and Tasmin Little’s violin virtuosity, and
enjoy a late-night dialogue between a composer and the bats in
Grinton churchyard.
As always, we feature
superb local artists and a host
of talented youngsters. There
are more solo recitals and
choirs this year, and some
sensational folk and chamber
groups. We introduce The
Reeth Lecture, in Reeth (where
else?) with inaugural lecturer
Sir Roy Strong. And following
John Bly’s popular 2008 visit,
we welcome his Antiques
Roadshow colleague,
Eric Knowles.
Richmond Day is back,
with a Caribbean steel band, a celebration of the historic visit to
Richmond 168 years ago by the great pianist Franz Liszt, and the
superb Choir of York Minster. The lovely poem on page 23, How to
make Richmond, is reproduced by permission of Ian McMillan and
the Academy of Urbanism, which awarded Richmond the title of
Best Town in Britain 2009.
We have another large-scale community event this year, an
opportunity for local people of all ages to perform alongside top
professionals. And for the first time it’s a brand new work
commissioned especially for the people who’ll perform it - a
Musical Play entitled Semmerwater. Its creators are the Reethbased
author Ann Pilling and composer David Gordon.
We remain extremely grateful to our generous sponsors
(listed on page 21), Festival Angels, Friends and volunteers, and all
the local people who make the Festival special.
Many of you told us in a recent audience survey that you
like being surprised. I’m sure you’ll find a wealth of surprises in
this year’s programme! We look forward to seeing you.
Malcolm Creese
Artistic Director
Image of Swaledale on cover used by kind permission of Martin Priestley
Saturday 23rd May
Leeds Baroque Choir
E1 | 8.00pm | St Andrew’s Church, Grinton | U
The singers of Leeds Baroque specialise in presenting English
Baroque music in a delightfully authentic way. Directed by Clive
McClelland, the highly accomplished choir will perform a
selection of uplifting music by Purcell, Handel and their
contemporaries, including some composers from Northern
England. Accompaniment will be provided by Martyn Hodgson on
theorbo, Vicki Hoodless on cello and Duncan Boutwood on
chamber organ. A joyful way to kick off the Festival!
•Adult £12 •Child £6
✪ Generously supported by Anne and Alan Maryon-Davis
Swaledale Festival Friends
The Friends scheme plays a significant role in funding the
Festival, particularly in times of economic difficulty when our
corporate sponsors may have major concerns of their own.
Friends receive a range of benefits, most significantly the
opportunity to book popular events before they go on general
sale and, potentially, sell out. Friends are also invited to
exclusive receptions during the Festival, when they can renew
old acquaintances and meet the evening’s performers informally.
Become a Friend before 13th April, using the Order Form
on page 34, and your ticket order will receive priority treatment!
Please become a Friend anyway, because we need you… If you’d
like details first, contact Harriet Smithson at 01748 880018 or at
friends@swaledale-festival.org.uk.
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Priority booking is available to Friends of the Festival Box Office (01748) 880019
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