Buxton International Festival launches 2022 programme

Buxton International Festival (BIF) revealed its 2022 festival programme yesterday, announcing its return this summer with a programme of operas, concerts, a musical, an oratorio, books, walks, lifestyle events and jazz. Alongside the Festival’s schedule of live performances, the audience are also invited to participate in debates as well as opportunities to sing, dance and walk.

This year’s festival will include three new productions: Rossini’s La Donna Del Lago with the Northern Chamber Orchestra in which Irish soprano Máire Flavin will make her festival debut as Elena with tenors Nico Darmanin and John Irvin also making their debuts. Johann Hasse’s Antonio e Cleopatra, directed by Evangeline Cullingworth is another new production with the Buxton Festival Baroque Ensemble.

Additionally, BIF’s partnership with Buxton Opera House continues for a new production of Styne’s Gypsy: A Musical Fable directed by Paul Kerryson, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The festival’s artistic director, Adrian Kelly, said: ‘The energy of our festival attracts funders, grantors, philanthropists, and sponsors for the arts because we can offer an opportunity where artists, audiences and funders can create new works together that reflect our society.’

The festival will also feature a Salzburg State Theatre production of Donizetti’s Viva la Diva starring George Humphreys as Agatha and Jenny Stafford as Prima Donna plus Waterperry Opera Festival’s Buxton debut: a production of Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park starring Sian Griffiths, Milo Harries, Ellie Neate and Sarah Champion.

Tom Coult’s Violet, co-commissioned and co-produced by Music Theatre Wales and Britten Pears Arts, is presented at this year’s festival in association with the London Sinfonietta. Festival CEO Michael Williams said: ‘Buxton International Festival continues to spread its wings, attracting visitors from all over the UK and beyond, keen to sample its world-class performances and our unique mix of events.’

BIF will also present a specially commissioned oratorio, Our Future In Your Hands, composed by Kate Whitley and written by Laura Attridge, discussing young people’s hopes and fears about climate change. The Brodsky Quartet and Manchester Camerata, will both celebrate their 50th birthdays this year with a joint concert with Jess Gillam. Other soloists will include soprano Louise Alder, pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, BBC New Generation Artists, the Mithras Trio and cellist Jamal Aliyev.

The English Concert returns this year with soprano Anna Dennis and pianist, Joanna MacGregor CBE, as well as the festival’s Spotlight on Chetham’s. Royal Overseas League competition winner, violinist Eleanor Corr will appear, and both Iestyn Davies and Christopher Maltman will give recitals. The Fretwork viol consort makes its Buxton debut and other ensembles will include the Jess Gillam Ensemble, Gould Piano Trio, the Solem Quartet, the Chroma Harp Duo, the Delphine Trio and the Solus Trumpet Ensemble.

Canadian trumpeter Jay Phelps will open BIF Jazz on 7 July. Led by director Neil Hughes, the new jazz programme will be based in a specially created jazz club at Buxton’s Palace Hotel. Hughes said: ‘I am so proud to be programming my first BIF Jazz season in Buxton, bringing you some the UK’s finest musicians.’

The festival brochure can be found online at the Buxton International Festival website and will available in print on 28 February. Priority booking for festival tickets will open on 1 March, with public booking opening on 31 March.