February 18 – Launch of the best Festival yet!
Bury St Edmunds Festival 2008 runs from Friday 9 May to Sunday 25 May with top class performers attracting thousands of people and bringing a buzz to the award-winning town at the heart of Suffolk.
A fresh design for this year's Festival brochure lists more than 60 events over 17 days in May including: orchestral concerts, new music, exciting fusions, open-air party nights, brass bands, lunchtime jazz and folk, classical ensembles, opera, dance, theatre, films, workshops, walks, and more.
Festival manager Nick Wells has put together another enticing combination of new ideas and old favourites in fantastic settings, to satisfy and surprise audiences.
Hundreds of young people will be getting involved by beating out junk funk with Weapons of Sound, singing African songs with the Bury Township Choir, writing music for the Tallis Scholars, dancing with the Jonathan Lunn Dance Company or learning about Parkour (free-running).
Tickets are expected to sell as fast as ever, but booking is easy via the new-look Festival website for outdoor concerts, and the Theatre Royal's Box Office at 01284 769505 or online at www.theatreroyal.org for all Festival events (from 25 February for Festival Friends and from 3 March for general booking).
Highlights include:
Festival Opening Celebrations with the traditional Beating Retreat (9 May) on Angel Hill, Weapons of Sound junk funk band beating out the rhythm with local schoolchildren, and wacky Street Theatre (10 May) in the Abbey Gardens.
Gala concerts from the mighty Russian State Symphony Orchestra (11 May), the European Union Chamber Orchestra with cellist Natalie Clein (20 May), early music stars Tallis Scholars (14 May), and top brass Grimethorpe Colliery Band (10 May).
Big names Jacques Loussier (19 May), Claire Martin & Richard Rodney Bennett (20 May), and an Opera double bill from Armonico Consort (16 May) in the refurbished Theatre Royal.
Hot jazz with South African band Mbawula (12 May) performing in a pub; Australian favourites Craig Schneider Trio (19 May), the award-winning David Newton Trio (22 may) and Alan Beechey's Bright Stars of Jazz (23 May).
Exciting fusions see the Brodsky Quartet alongside Tunde Jegede performing his new work on kora (12 May); the Gilad Atzmon Quartet explore Charlie Parker's music with the Sigamos String Quartet (15 May); Acoustic Triangle and the Sacconi Quartet launch a grand tour of inspiring buildings from St Edmundsbury Cathedral (16 May); pianist Lucy Parham tells Liszt's love story with actors Martin Jarvis and Joanna David (18 May); and the Jonathan Lunn Dance Company is also joined by a well known actor (14 May).
Local heroes Karen Sharp Quintet (12 May), jazz singer Sophie Garner (16 May), Bury Bach Choir performing Verdi's Requiem (17 May) and folk band, the Churchfitters (21 May).
Lively lunchtimes every weekday such as flute and guitar duo Flautarra (13 May), a new take on early music from Horses Brawl (14 May); and five female recorder players in Fontanella (20 May).
Favourite ensembles Prime Brass (13 May), the Royal Academy of Music's Symphonic Wind ensemble (15 May) and The Four Temperaments (22 May), plus pirates of the baroque Red Priest (21 May).
Two very different solo performances: Ian Billings brings his Talking Pants comedy show for children (17 May) and Bruce Morrison brings Shakespeare's characters to life (16 May); and this year sees the Festival's first World Cinema series featuring four award-winning films that have wowed audiences worldwide
Party and picnic at a Gig in the Gardens by dancing to Jazz Jamaica, going retro for the Abba & Beatles tribute night, or swinging with the Salute to the Rat Pack for the Festival Finale with fireworks.
Plus organ recitals, themed walks, talks, cookery workshops, supper tours, flower market and much more.
Councillor Lynsey Alexander, portfolio holder for Arts and Culture, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said:
"Our Festival continues to be an annual cultural highlight, regularly featuring performers of international standing and renown as well as home grown talent. Whether you live in the Borough or whether you are going to be visiting, I hope you enjoy immersing yourself in the delights of the Festival as much as I am going to."
Festival brochures will be widely available from late February; visit the Festival website (brochure available to download soon) or call the brochure hotline on 01284 757099.
Tickets for all Festival events go on sale to the general public from Monday 3 March. Book through the Festival Box Office, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds on 01284 769505, or online at www.theatreroyal.org (Early booking and group discounts available)
