Festival: it’s bigger and better

July 27, 2007, 9:22 am

Budleigh Salterton Festival of Music and the Arts kicks off on July 25 and promises a host of high-class entertainment until its close on August 4.

More than 47 live events - with national names already queuing up to take part in future Budleigh Music and Art festivals because of the calibre of past events - means this year’s 11-day event will be the best ever.

And the audiences seem to agree because tickets are already selling out fast.

Festival chairman Roger Bowen said the box office hoped to beat last year’s £18,000 mark, increasing to £24,000 in ticket sales.

Mr Bowen said this year’s event was 25 per cent bigger than in previous years, but would still present a mix of formal evening performances of quality as well as free lunchtime concerts delivered mainly by Devon musicians.

“We hope this will appeal to the ever widening audience which includes greater numbers of visitors to the town,” said Mr Bowen. “This year we welcome the New Devon Opera’s staging of Tosca and the many other events that make up the enlarged 2007 festival.

“The scope is extended this year in that we offer a play reading, two fine art gallery exhibitions, a sculpture walk and a children’s play, The Interesting Life of Sir Walter Raleigh.

“Whatever your taste, I am sure you will find much to enjoy. It’s going to be bigger, better and more successful and we are very much looking forward to it.”

One of the highlights of the first week of the festival is the orchestral concert given by the Festival Orchestra under conductor Nicholas Marshall, when John Gardner’s Bassoon Concerto will be given its world premiere.

Young Chinese pianist Wu Qian, who in 2005 had her second successful Wigmore Hall solo recital along with several UK and international festival engagements, will perform a recital.

The festival is to present its first opera - Puccini’s Tosca - in a full stage and orchestral version with national principals and chorus.

The crowds are also anticipating Emma Kirkby’s evening performance of lute-song recitals with lutenist Anthony Rooley at St Peter’s Church.

Raphael Wallfisch, on cello, with Gunilla Sussman, on piano, are another act not to be missed on August 1.

Mozart Evening on August 4 brings a spectacular festival to a close for another year with the Budleigh Salterton Festival Orchestra and Budleigh Salterton Festival Chorus raising the roof on what promises to be a truly rousing evening of song and music.

Festival brochures and tickets for all performances can be found at Budleigh Salterton TIC, in Fore Street.

Information is also available at www.budleigh-festival.org.uk.

This article was taken from: Exmouth Journal