Alison CrooseKing's Lynn Festival will celebrate its 60th anniversary on July 18-31 with a wide-ranging programme featuring internationally renowned musicians plus favourites from the world of folk, comedy and literature.Alison Croose
King's Lynn Festival will celebrate its 60th anniversary on July 18-31 with a wide-ranging programme featuring internationally renowned musicians plus favourites from the world of folk, comedy and literature.
The Black Dyke Band will launch the event and the final concert will be performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by their exciting young music director Andris Nelsons.
Other big names include the BBC Concert Orchestra which will record Friday Night is Music Night with presenter Ken Bruce and guest stars Graham Bickley and Jodie Prenger.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, comedian Barry Cryer, and folk stars Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy will add to the variety.
An opera gala will feature the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists from Welsh National Opera, King's Lynn Festival Chorus will team up with the English Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will return, and there will be performances by pianist Nikolai Demidenko and cellist Guy Johnston.
Trumpet virtuoso Crispian Steele-Perkins will exploit the fine acoustic in St Nicholas' Chapel in a concert with The Handel Players.
The Queen Mother's official biographer William Shawcross, and writer and restaurateur Prue Leith will be guests at the literary dinner.
Celebrated conductor, musicologist and keyboard player, Christopher Hogwood, a former artistic director of Lynn Festival, will be 'in conversation' with BBC Radio 3 presenter James Jolly.
Classical music provides the cornerstones of the festival with five major orchestras taking part as well as rising stars performing at five coffee concerts. The last of the series will be the Ruth Fermoy Memorial Concert given by the award-winning Rautio Piano Trio with Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola). The concert is sponsored by Lady Fermoy's daughter, Mary Roche.
The festival exhibition in the Fermoy Gallery will bring together famous faces and significant buildings which have contributed to the prestige of Lynn.
Call the box office on 01553-764864 or visit www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk
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