THE 41st Presteigne Music Festival begins this week with a stellar line-up – having earlier this year been described by The Times as one of 50 best festivals taking place throughout the UK in 2023.
The festival runs from Thursday to Monday, August 24-28, with the classical music festival featuring an array of performances from iconic composers like Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms, Britten, Debussy, Fauré, Holst, Poulenc, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, as well as living composers premiering new pieces.
More than 80 exceptional performing artists and composers will congregate in and around Radnorshire’s favourite festival town for 24 arts events taking place over 5 days in Presteigne, while other concerts and performances will also be held in Bleddfa, Leintwardine, Discoed and Leominster.
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Legendary Czech composer Leoš Janáček’s music takes pride of place throughout the programme and the festival is thrilled to be welcoming Roxanna Panufnik as composer-in-residence.
Her music was featured at the coronation of King Charles, with The Observer recently describing her as “a gifted composer with a fast-growing reputation for heart, spunk and individuality… a distinctive in voice, serious, bold and appealing”.
Award-winning Sarajevo-born piano star Ivana Gavrić, international violist Rachel Roberts, virtuoso British clarinettist Robert Plane, the Solem Quartet and the critically-acclaimed Choir of King’s College London head up a hugely talented roster of artists.
The Presteigne Music Festival’s tradition of commissioning and premiering new music continues to be at the heart of its ethos, with 11 hugely diverse musical works receiving premieres over the long weekend, from composers including Michael Berkeley, Edward Gregson and three exciting emergent voices – Sarah Frances Jenkins, Electra Perivolaris and Claire Victoria Roberts.
The festival also features poetry from Rhiannon Hooson, Christopher Reid on Seamus Heaney, Sioned Davies on the Mabinogion, Stephen Johnson on Janáček, Barrie Gavin’s new film, celebrating composer David Matthews’ 80th birthday, a series of films produced in Wales, together with exhibitions and the popular Presteigne Open Studios weekend, which celebrates the work of over 30 local artists and makers.
In person, online and telephone booking is open. Visit presteignefestival.com or call 01544 267800.
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