PERTH FESTIVAL, SCOTLAND 20th - 30th May 2010
10/06/2009
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Festival this year. It has been a wonderful year with many memorable events culminating in the Brewin Dolphin Festival Concert with the RPO and Nicola Benedetti - see "2009 Round-up" below for details. Please come back next year 20th - 30th May 2010 - It will be Perth's 800th birthday! Festival highlights in 2010 will include the English Touring Opera, who will perform three operas; The Marriage of Figaro, A Mid Summer Night's Dream and Don Pasquale. The programme will also include concerts by The Halle Orchestra from Manchester and The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Why not consider becoming a Friend of Perth Festival. It only costs £10 and includes priority booking. Click on the link above for details.
CLICK HERE to browse 2009 Perth Festival brochure
What is Perth Festival?
Perth Festival of the Arts is an annual 11 day May Festival, founded in 1972, and taking place in the City of Perth in Scotland. The Festival is an independent registered charity. It covers a wide range of artforms from classical music and opera to rock, jazz, dance and visual art. The Festival takes place in Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and St John's Kirk. Some of the artists who have performed at the Festival in recent years include Bryn Terfel, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Van Morrison, Nicola Benedetti, Elaine Paige, Jools Holland, Dara O Briain, Russell Howard, Paul Merton, Julian Clary, The Magic Numbers, Calvin Harris, The Waterboys, The Stranglers, Richard Hawley, Seth Lakeman, Courtney Pine, Ann Sofie Von Otter, John Williams ... and many more. Click here for a full list of Festival Artists
Perth 800 is a year long programme of events in Perth & Kinross which will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Burgh Charter to Perth by King William the Lion of Scotland in 1210. CLICK HERE to see Perth 800 Programme
2009 Round-up
02/06/2009
Curtain Falls on Perth Festival of the Arts 2009
Jun 2 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser
THE sensational Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, playing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, brought the 38th Perth Festival of the Arts to an appropriately rousing conclusion in Perth Concert Hall on Sunday. An eclectic programme of cultural events, from young comedian Russell Howard to virtuoso classical musicians, had given Perth audiences entertainment of the highest quality over 11 days, culminating in Sunday’s Brewin Dolphin-sponsored Festival Concert.“Nicola Benedetti was absolutely sensational,” said a delighted Festival administrator Sandra Ralston yesterday. “She was the perfect choice in this year of Homecoming Scotland, and it was wonderful that many members of her family came to support her. “She was a real star and so happy to meet and talk to people on Sunday.”
Looking back over the Festival, Sandra commented: “This year’s Festival has been fantastic. “We met our sales target last Monday so are absolutely thrilled that we have had wonderful ticket sales. “We had been cautious in planning, wanting to be careful in the current economic climate, and we were very pleased and surprised how well all our events had been supported. We sold a higher percentage of tickets than last year and had seven sold-out shows – Nicola Benedetti and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Prague Symphony Orchestra, Russell Howard, Fascinating Aida, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and two nights of Magic Flute.”
And Sandra pledged that the Perth Festival would continue to “push the barriers”. “There was a change of policy in the late 1990s to broaden the appeal of the Festival and each year we have introduced new elements, although classical music and opera are still very much central to the Festival. “And we hope that next year we will be able to celebrate Perth 800 with something special.” Sandra also expressed delighted at the huge turnout to the weekend’s Art on the River event in Tay Street, organised by Perth city centre management as part of the Perth Festival programme.”
2009 Press Release
28/05/2009
Perth Festival of the Arts has announced the full line-up for the 38th event, which will take place in Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and St John’s Kirk from 21st to 31st May. The Festival aims to offer something for everyone and to make Perth the centre of Scottish cultural for the duration of each Festival. The Perth Festival Box Office is preparing to open for business on Monday 30th March.
In the year of Scotland’s Homecoming the Festival announced that one of Scotland’s most talented classical musicians, Nicola Benedetti will play at The Brewin Dolphin Festival Concert with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton on Sunday 31st May at Perth Concert Hall. More Scots artists will be singer songwriter Edwyn Collins, folk legends The Tannahill Weavers also Tommy Smith with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, who will play a programme of Steely Dan.
The rich classical programme includes The Prague Symphony Orchestra with BBC Young Musician of the Year Winner, Freddie Kempf (piano) conducted by Petr Altrichter. English Touring Opera will present two nights of The Magic Flute and one night of Katya Kabanova by Janecek. Emma Johnson (clarinet) and Pascal Rogé (piano) will give a recital at Perth Concert Hall and The Nash Ensemble of London make a welcome return. After their stunning appearance at this year’s BBC Proms The King’s Singers will also perform.
The Festival also announced that Mock the Week, Russell Howard, will be performing a standup show. He will follow his colleague, Dara O Briain’s show in 2008. West Country born singer songwriter Seth Lakeman will perform at Perth Concert Hall. He was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005. Female trio Fascinating Aida will perform some witty repartee and Theatre Company Brute Farce will stage a hilarious version of Moll Flanders. More highlights will be the West End Show Stones in His Pockets, An Audience with Author Colin Dexter Morse and Me and a night of hot tango with Tango Siempre.
Over many years the Festival has supported young musicians from Perth who have decided to make their careers in music. This year it is the turn of bassoon player Lawrence O’Donnell, who will give a recital with three friends in St John’s Kirk. Perth Youth Orchestra will also play at this year’s Festival Service. Events also involving Perthshire artists will be an exhibition by Raymond Honeyman, concerts by Perthshire Schools, Art on the River and the Perth Art Trail.
Brewin Dolphin Concerts
27/05/2009
In the year of Scotland’s Homecoming the Festival is delighted that one of Scotland’s most talented classical musicians, Nicola Benedetti will play at The Brewin Dolphin Festival Concert with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton on Sunday 31st May at Perth Concert Hall.
Over five years the Festival has had a strong relationship with sponsors Bell Lawrie, who from March 2009 will adopt the name of its parent company, Brewin Dolphin. Their sponsorship has enabled the Festival to bring world-class artists such as Bryn Terfel, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Julian Lloyd Webber, Peter Donohoe and Tasmin Little to Perth.
Commenting on Brewin Dolphin’s continued sponsorship of the Festival, John Cowmeadow, Divisional Director, said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring such a popular event for the fifth year. Through our close partnership with Perth Festival of Arts, we are keen to broaden the appeal of performing arts. This year’s festival is set to be another great success and we hope those attending enjoy the spectacular performances.”
Perth Festival Chairman Craig Dennis said “We at Perth Festival of the Arts are delighted that Brewin Dolphin is continuing their Sponsorship in 2009. This relationship has been highly important to the Festival as we seek to bring more significant cultural events to the Fair City.”
World-class artists
26/05/2009
Some of the artists who have performed at Perth Festival in recent years include -
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,
Bryn Terfel,
Lesley Garrett,
Van Morrison,
Elaine Paige,
Nicola Benedetti,
Anne Sofie von Otter,
Sir James Galway,
Evelyn Glennie,
John Williams,
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra,
Calvin Harris,
The Magic Numbers,
The Waterboys,
John Martyn,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
Cleo Laine and John Dankworth,
Courtney Pine,
Dara O Briain,
Paul Merton,
Dave Gorman,
Russell Howard,
Sir David Frost,
Ian Rankin,
Joan Armatrading,
Richard Hawley,
The Levellers,
Edwyn Collins,
Seth Lakeman,
Stacey Kent,
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel,
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings,
Martin Taylor,
The Stranglers,
Rick Wakeman,
The Buzzcocks,
Ian Dury and the Blockheads,
Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats,
John Etheridge,
Georgie Fame,
Loudon Wainwright III,
Juan Martin,
London Community Gospel Choir
and The Reduced Shakespeare Company....
English Touring Opera has performed the most wonderful range of operas in Perth over the last few years including
2009 Katya Kobanova & The Magic Flute,
2008 Anna Bolena & Don Giovanni,
2007 Eugene Onegin & Seraglio,
2006 Tosca & Jenufa,
2005 Maria Stuarda & Cosi Fan Tutte,
2004 A Mid Summer Night's Dream & The Marriage of Figaro,
2003 Die Fledermaus & Ariadne auf Naxos,
2002 Don Giovanni & La Traviata,
2001 The Magic Flute & Manon.
Classical artists include -
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra,
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra,
Scottish Opera,
John Currie and the Perth Festival Chorus,
The Scottish Ensemble,
English Chamber Orchestra,
Northern Sinfonia,
Budapest Symphony Orchestra,
Russian State Symphony Orchestra,
The Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra,
Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet, The Palladian Ensemble,
Czech Symphony Orchestra,
Kings College Cambridge Choir,
The Sixteen,
The King's Consort,
The King's Singers,
The Nash Ensemble,
The Lindsays,
The Brodski Quartet,
The Endellion String Quartet, Medici String Quartet, Dante Quartet, London Winds, The Edinburgh Quartet, Fine Arts Brass, Tasmin Little, John Lill, Peter Donohoe, Raphael Wallfisch, Janet Hilton, Bernard D'Ascoli, Ernst Kovacic, Lisa Milne, Alastair Beatson, Freddie Kempf, Emma Johnson, Pascal Roge, Paul Lewis, Perth Youth Orchestra....
and many other classical musicians.
Theatre Shows -
Paul Merton's Impro Chums,
Fascinating Aida,
Stones in His Pockets,
Karen Dunbar,
Camilla Dallerup and Ian Waite,
4 Poofs and A Piano,
Ned Sherrin,
Barry Cryer,
Sir Clement Freud,
Barry Norman,
Colin Dexter,
Rainer Hersch,
John Suchet,
Hannah Gordon,
Guy Masterson,
John Sergeant,
Mose Scarlett,
Martin Carthy,
Bert Jansch,
Dick Gaughan,
Martin Simpson,
Helen Shapiro,
Maria Ewing.
Kit and the Widow,
Sylvia Sims and Jenny Seagrove,
Wendy Craig and Francis Matthews,
Dorothy Tutin,
Richard Stillgoe and Peter Skellern,
Didier Lockwood,
George Melly and John Chiltern’s Feetwarmers,
Black Umflosoi,
Mugenkyo Japanese drummers,
Jaleo Flamenco,
Tango Argentina.
Ballet Companies -Scottish Ballet,
European Ballet,
British Gas Ballet Central,
Welsh Ballet and Ballet Russe.
Scottish Musicians -
Calvin Harris,
Teenage Fanclub,
Runrig,
Mull Historical Society,
Capercaille,
Salsa Celtica,Shooglenifty,
Grim Nothern Social,
Aberfeldy,
Martin Taylor,
Eddi Reader,
Karen Matheson,
Dougie MacLean,
Tommy Smith,
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra,
Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain,
Scottish Fiddle Orchestra,
The Battlefield Band,
Rab Noakes and the Varaflames,
Old Blind Dogs,
Peatbog Fairies,
The Poozies,
Michael Marra,
Tam White,
Jim Condie,
Jackie Leven,
Robin Lang,
Fraser Spiers,
Alex Yellowlees Hot Club Band,
Allan Neave and Simon Dinnigan,
Boogalusa,
Tippi
and Fraser Anderson
And many more....
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