PERTH FESTIVAL, SCOTLAND
19th - 30th May 2010
08/02/2010
* TICKETS GO ON SALE ON MONDAY 29th MARCH *
Become a Friend of the Festival for £10 and have priority booking from 20th March. Click on the Friends link above for details.
CLICK HERE for 2010 PROGRAMME
Some of the highlights in 2010 -
19th May - Don McLean America's legendary singer-songwriter
20th May- The HSBC Perth Festival Opera "Don Pasquale" English Touring Opera
21st May- The HSBC Perth Festival Opera "The Marriage of Figaro" ETO
21st May - American stand-up comedian Rich Hall
22nd May- The HSBC Perth Festival Opera "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ETO
22nd May - Opening Andy Warhol Exhibition
23rd May- Moscow State Symphony Orchestra
23rd May - Animal Farm by George Orwell
24th May- Mr McFall's Chamber Tour & Michael Marra
25th May - Coffee Concert RSAMD
25th May - "Martha" Catherine Wheels Theatre Company -Show for Children
25th May- Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
25th May - An Audience with Gyles Brandreth
26th May- The BBC Singers Live Broadcast Radio 3
26th May - Antique Antics with the Eric Knowles
27th May - Coffee Concert RSAMD
27th May- Scottish National Jazz Orchestra "Rhapsody in Blue"
27th May - Flanders and Swann "At the Drop of a Hippopotamus"
28th May- Perth 800 Concert - RSNO, Barbara Bonney & Sir Andrew Davis
29th & 30th May- Perth Art Trail & Art on the River
29th May - Gordon Seith and Pure Brass
29th May- "Kit and the Widow"
30th May- The Brewin Dolphin Concert - The Hallé Orchestra & Alison Balsom
More exciting shows to be announced shortly
Pictured Barbara Bonney, Alison Balsom, Don McLean, Rich Hall and Ukulele Orchestra.
CLICK HERE to browse 2009 Perth Festival brochure
Dates of the 40th Festival are 19th to 29th May 2011.
HSBC Announces Sponsorship Deal for Perth Festival
08/02/2010
HSBC today announced its inaugural partnership with the Perth Festival of the Arts, which will see the bank sponsor three productions by English Touring Opera.
The HSBC Perth Festival Operas, to be staged in Perth Theatre in May 2010, include “Don Pasquale" by Donizetti, "The Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart and "A Midsummer Night's Dream” by Britten.
This will be the first time the Festival has had three different operas on consecutive nights. In addition to supporting the Festival Operas, HSBC will also sponsor the series of Schools Concerts by Perthshire Schools.
John Rendall, Chief Executive, HSBC Scotland said: “We’re looking forward to being part of the buzz surrounding the annual arts festival and are delighted to be associated with what I’m sure will be one of the highlights of the events programme.“
“Since opening our branch in Perth over two years ago, we’ve been working hard to raise our profile and establish ourselves as part of the community. By helping to support what is established as a leading Arts Festival, this sponsorship gives us another opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the City and surrounding area.”
Festival Chairman Craig Dennis commented “We are delighted with this new partnership with HSBC. Now that they have a branch in Perth we are looking forward to working closely with them. Opera is a key feature of the Festival and English Touring Opera stages such high quality productions. It is a perfect event for HSBC."
HSBC opened its Perth retail branch in 2008, marking the first time the bank had had a presence in the city. The branch, located on the High Street, offers the full range of banking services to both new and existing retail and commercial banking customers, and forms a key part of the HSBC’s regional branch network in Scotland.
The Festival is now in its 39th year and is staging special events to coincide with the Perth 800 celebrations with mark the granting of the Royal Burgh Charter to Perth by King William the Lion of Scotland in 1210. The programme includes orchestral concerts, rock concerts, jazz, comedy, art exhibitions. Some of the artists include American soprano Barbara Bonney, the RSNO, Sir Andrew Davis, The Hallé Orchestra, Alison Balsom, The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, American Pie Don McLean, The BBC Singers, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Rich Hall, "Kit and the Widow", Gyles Brandreth, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and much more.
What is Perth Festival?
12/01/2010
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, folk, 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, Edwyn Collins, Joan Armatrading, The Waterboys, The Stranglers, Richard Hawley, Seth Lakeman, Bill Wyman, Courtney Pine, Ann Sofie Von Otter, John Williams ... and many more. Click here for a full list of Festival Artists
Perth 800
10/01/2010
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
Perth Festival is staging a Gala Concert for Perth 800 on Friday 28th May in Perth Concert Hall featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Barbara Bonney conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.
Perth Festival Launches 2010 Programme
07/01/2010
2010 is shaping up to be a special year for Perth Festival of the Arts. It has today launched a significant part of its 39th programme to be staged in Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and St John’s Kirk from the 19th to 30th May. The programme includes three orchestral concerts, three operas, rock concerts, jazz, comedy, art exhibitions with more events to be announced in the coming weeks.
Don McLean, America's legendary singer-songwriter will open the Festival on Wednesday 19th May. He has over 40 gold and platinum records worldwide and his impressive back-catalogue includes the instantly recognisable “And I Love You So”, “Vincent”, “Castles In The Air” and his cover of Roy Orbison's “Crying” (which reached no. 1 in the UK). However, he is perhaps best known for his 1971 no.1 smash “American Pie”. It was inspired by the death of Buddy Holly and a social critique on modern America.
The Brewin Dolphin Festival Concert will close the Festival and this year will feature The Hallé Orchestra from Manchester with trumpeter Alison Balsom and conductor Edward Gardner on Sunday 30th May at Perth Concert Hall. Alison played at this year’s Last Night of the Proms and in 2009 became the first ever Briton to be crowned "Female Artist of the Year" at the Classical BRITs. Edward Gardner is the Music Director of English National Opera. Brewin Dolphin Divisional Director John Cowmeadow expressed his delight that the continued support that Brewin Dolphin offers the Festival will result in another fabulous finale for the 2010 event.
The relationship with Brewin Dolphin is now in its sixth year and has enabled the Festival to bring world-class artists such as Bryn Terfel, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Nicola Benedetti, Lesley Garrett, Julian Lloyd Webber, Peter Donohoe and Tasmin Little to Perth.
The rich classical programme will also include a special Gala Concert to celebrate Perth 800 with the soprano Barbara Bonney, the RSNO and conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. American-born Barbara Bonney is one of the world's most accomplished lyric sopranos. She now leads the field in her chosen repertory of roles by Mozart and Richard Strauss and is increasingly recognised as one of the finest Lieder and concert performers of her generation.
The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra will also play on the 23rd May and their programme includes “Scheherazade” and “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”.
In a new collaboration with HSBC bank, English Touring Opera stages three major operas at Perth Theatre – "Don Pasquale" by Donizetti, "The Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart and "A Midsummer Night's Dream” by Britten. This will be the first time the Festival has had three different operas on consecutive nights.
The BBC Singers will perform in Perth Concert Hall and will be broadcast live on Radio 3. The concert will feature some works by local composer Robert Carver. Other shows include The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, who has been very popular at summer festivals, "Kit and the Widow" who return after a successful Edinburgh Fringe run this summer, An Audience with Gyles Brandreth, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Tommy Smith, Brian Kellock, Tam White - "Rhapsody in Blue" and Mr McFall's Chamber Tour and Michael Marra.
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 trombone player Gordon Seith, who will give a recital in St John’s Kirk with the ensemble Pure Brass. There will also be two Coffee Concerts by The Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama. Perth Youth Orchestra will also play at this year’s Festival Service.
The Festival Art Exhibition at Perth Museum and Art Gallery will feature Andy Warhol’s early drawings, stitched photographs, prints and posters. The popular Art on the River stalls along Tay Street will be staged again by Perth City Centre Management on the weekend of 29th and 30th May.
More shows to be announced including rock concerts, stand-up comedy, a ceilidh, drama and childrens show. Booking opens end March. There are more details on the Festival including dates and times of shows on the Festival website. www.perthfestival.co.uk Box Office 01738 621 031
2009 Programme
03/08/2009
CLICK HERE for 2009 brochure
2009 SUMMARY PROGRAMME
21st - 31st May
21st May - The Magic Flute by English Touring Opera SOLD OUT
21st May - Tango Siempre
22nd May - Katya Kabanova by English Touring Opera
22nd May - Piccadilly Dance Orchestra
23rd May - Mock the Week's Russell Howard SOLD OUT
23rd May - The Magic Flute by English Touring Opera SOLD OUT
24th May - The Prague Symphony Orchestra with Freddie Kempf SOLD OUT
24th May - Edwyn Collins in Concert
25th May - Event for Primary School Children - The Book of Beasts
25th May - Morse and Me An Audience with Colin Dexter
26th May - Pascal Roge and Emma Johnson (clarinet)
26th May - The Tannahill Weavers
27th May - The King's Singers
27th May - West End Show Stones in His Pockets
28th May - The Nash Ensemble of London
28th May - Moll Flanders by Brute Farce
29th May - The Nash Ensemble of London
29th May - Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Three Decades of Steely Dan SOLD OUT
30th May - Lawrence O'Donnell and Friends
30th May - Seth Lakeman in Concert
30th May - Fascinating Aida - SOLD OUT
31st May - The Brewin Dolphin Festival Concert -The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Nicola Benedetti conducted by Andrew Litton SOLD OUT
