Oundle International Festival – 12 – 21 July
Oundle Music Trust hosts arts events throughout the year in and around the historic Northamptonshire town of Oundle, culminating in Oundle International Festival – a feast of music, theatre and film
The 2013 Oundle International Festival is always an eclectic and exciting mix, and this year perhaps more than ever, with leading international solo and ensemble performers, light opera, musically themed films and even a live BBC Radio 4 broadcast.
The festival kicks off in style on Friday 12 July with an evening of music by Mozert, Bach, Grieg and Respighi, performed by world-renowned violinist Tamsin Little with European Union Chamber
Orchestra. The opening weekend includes this year’s Picnic in the Park (Sat 14 July) at Boughton House and will see a return to the festival stage of Courtney Pine with his award-winning House Of Legends project.
This spectacular setting will also play host to the traditional fireworks display later in the evening. A limited number of canopy sites – with canopies and furniture already in place – will be available and there are special VIP packages for those who would favour an ‘upmarket’ experience.
One of the highlights of the festival is the presence of the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge, and their Director of Music, Mark Williams, as resident musicians. They will be leading the Bach Walk, singing Evensong, working with the Summer School organists, leading the Festival Chorus in a live BBC Radio 4 Broadcast, and performing Monteverdi Vespers accompanied by His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts.
There are also recitals by leading organists including Margaret Phillips, Gordon Stewart and William Whitehead, and a number of world class piano events, including performances by Young-Choon Park, Chen Meng and Virginia Black.
There is an exciting concert for Piano 4 Hands by Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa, and a ‘Jacques Loussier’ style evening with the Dominic Alldis Trio. The festival is also working closely with the Fringe Festival, and the series of lunchtime concerts is thoughtfully timed so that you can enjoy Fringe events as well as these lunchtime events.
On the closing weekend, several festivals come together as one, with Oundle Food Festival taking place in the market place on Saturday 20 July, and the main festival and Fringe joining to present a combined event that same day in the form of a Ceilidh. Sunday 21 rounds off the week with a carnival in the town market place.
Oundle Cinema will also be mounting a series of films that will cater to a wide range of musical (and cinematic) tastes including Les Miserables, Quartet and a Singalong production of Grease – an opportunity to relive the 1970s with an exciting interactive evening in the cinema. Add to the mix Gilbert and Sullivan star Richard Suart, Prime Brass, Amy Green, Becky Taylor, the Wobbly World of Opera and Babe, the Sheep Pig, and you have something to appeal to just about everyone!
Time
Various Times
Location
Various venues across the region
