Presteigne festival announces 2024 programme

Presteigne Festival has revealed the programme for its 2024 edition. Running from 22 to 26 August, this year’s festival will see Ivor Novello Composer Award-winner Richard Blackford take up the role of composer-in-residence alongside a programme featuring 13 world premieres and an emphasis on the music of Benjamin Britten.

With concerts in venues across the Welsh Marches, the season will feature world premieres of works by composers including Royal Philharmonic Society Young Composer James Albany Hoyle, Nathan James Dearden, Cheryl Frances- Hoad, Tayla-Leigh Payne, Lara Poe and James B Wilson. Cecilia McDowall, David Matthews, Joseph Phibbs, Huw Watkins and Dame Judith Weir will also present their music alongside familiar works by JS Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Dowland, Mendelssohn, Sibelius and Walton.

Presenting this year’s festival programme, artistic director George Vass said: ‘The music programme embraces a wide variety of elements, focusing on the music of Benjamin Britten, contrasted with works from his contemporaries, his influences and those who, in turn, were influenced by him… We hope you’ll be tempted to join us for some exceptional music-making in August, and look forward to welcoming you to Radnorshire’s cultural capital.’

The festival will feature performers including the Choir of Royal Holloway under conductor Rupert Gough, the Piatti Quartet, pianists Huw Watkins and Annie Yim, cellist Alice Neary, soprano Rebecca Bottone, baritone Nicholas Mogg, actor Anton Lesser, narrators Sarah Gabriel and Alexander Knox, flautist Daniel Shao and guitarist Paul Galbraith. The season closes with performances by Presteigne Festival Orchestra and Festival Ensemble conducted by Vass along with works by harpist Anne Denholm and mezzo-soprano Rebecca Afonwy-Jones among others.

In addition to musical performances, the programme will see composer and festival vice-president Thomas Hyde in conversation with Rhiannon Mathias about Welsh composer William Mathias; author and biographer Oliver Soden on Noël Coward’s life; the screening of three Welsh films including Y Sŵn and exhibits by local artisans and creators at the Presteigne Open Studios weekend.

Online booking for the festival is now with discounted tickets available for ages 25 and under.