2012 Festival Newsletter

FOUR DAYS TO GO...

Excitement is building as we look forward to greeting our first Festival artists, Le Concert des Nations and their director Jordi Savall, in London on Wednesday.  As greatly loved and respected visitors to the Festival over many years, it is no surprise that their concert on Friday is almost sold-out: you might still be lucky and find a balcony seat or a return.

You can hear Jordi Savall talking about their pan-European Festival programme on BBC Radio 3's In Tune on Wednesday, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. 

In Tune will also host Vivien Ellis and Giles Lewin, aka Alva, talking about the Sporting Life, on Friday 18 May, and John Butt reflecting eloquently on Bach's secular cantatas and Brandenburg Concerto no.3, on Monday 21 May.

HANDEL'S RIVAL QUEENS
SATURDAY 26 MAY, 7.30pm

For personal reasons, Rosemary Joshua has unfortunately had to withdraw from this concert. The Lufthansa Festival is delighted that Lisa Milne (pictured) has agreed to take her place at short notice.

Lisa has an outstanding international career on the concert podium and in the opera house, with stage performances at the New York Met, Glyndebourne, ENO, WNO and Scottish Opera, and concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Budapest Festival Orchestras. As a recitalist she appears at Europe's most prestigious festivals and concert halls.

This concert is destined to be among our more confrontational Festival finales, so those with ringside seats are to be envied, although electricity is guaranteed from any position.

More information

FACEBOOK OFFER

The Early Opera Company and its charismatic founder/director Christian Curnyn have just released an eagerly anticipated recording of Handel's Alceste. You have the chance of winning a copy of this outstanding CD by 'liking' both our Facebook page (if you haven't already) and the picture of the CD we have posted there by Friday 18 May.  The winner will be picked at random and will be announced on Facebook on Monday 21 May.

BBC RADIO 3

This year we continue our long association with BBC Radio 3, which will either broadcast live or record seven Festival concerts -

• Jordi Savall will go out live on 18 May, but if you're very quick you may still find a balcony seat
• Ensemble Meridiana will be recorded 20 May for broadcast 23 September
• Musica ad Rhenum will be recorded 20 May for broadcast 10 June
• Dunedin Consort will go out live on 22 May
• Harmonie Universelle will go out live on 23 May
• ensemble savādi will be recorded 25 May for broadcast 9 June
• Kimberly Marshall will be recorded 26 May for broadcast 6 October

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DUNEDIN CONSORT & PLAYERS

Our second promotional video this year, now available to view on YouTube, looks forward to our evening with John Butt and the Dunedin Consort & Players who will be performing 'The Contest of Phoebus and Pan' on Tuesday 22 May.