One of Yorkshire’s leading classical music festivals, the Northern Aldborough Festival is set to turn the idyllic rural North Yorkshire village into an unlikely epicentre for music from 12th to 21st June. Sopranos, operatic stars, jazz vocalists and choral acts are coming into the area from far-flung locations to satisfy the aim of this years programme – to celebrate the artistry and power of the human voice, centred on the annual New Voices Singing Competition, which boasts a star-studded judging panel.
Opening the festival fresh from their Proms debut is the dynamic Fantasia Orchestra. Home to some of the best of young British classical music talent, they will be joined by leading violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen, performing Vaughan Williams’ stunning Lark Ascending. Under the baton of Tom Fetherstonhaugh, the programme includes Elgar’s elegiac Serenade for Strings and Dvorak’s Nocturne.
Audiences experience acts normally seen on the cosmopolitan stage in the intimate setting of the ancient St Andrew’s village church. Now in its 31st year, a charity, the festival’s mission is to bring world-class acts to rural audiences, and provide a platform for rising stars of the classical scene. The festival also welcomes the leading British jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth and her Trio. She’ll showcase her unique vocal mastery in an intimate venue, with a set featuring her favourite classics that have inspired her incredible career.
Audiences can expect a spine-tingling evening with the critically-acclaimed singers of Armonico Consort (top) as they sing Rachmaninov’s Russian masterpiece, The Vespers. Considered simply the most gorgeous choral music ever written, the piece was so personal to Rachmaninov he requested a section of the Vespers to be sung at his funeral.
One of the UK’s most exciting opera companies, Wild Arts, performs Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. Attracting five-star reviews, the semi-staged comedy reimagines the legendary story in a dreamy 1950s seaside setting. Audiences can picnic in the beautiful surrounds of Aldborough Manor before the performance. Closing the festival is the popular Last Night Outdoor Concert, set in the grounds of Aldborough Manor. This year’s headline act is the Killerz Tribute, one of the original tribute acts to The Killers, who will perform to circa 1,000 festival-goers.
Audiences are invited to bring a picnic and dance the night away, ending with a spectacular orchestrated firework display. Aldborough’s late-night venue ‘The Shed’ also returns for concert goers who want to continue festivities after the evening concerts in a relaxed environment, with a variety of live entertainment and refreshments. For the full programme and to book tickets, go to: https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/
