Georgiana

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–91); Martin y Soler (1754–1806); Stephen Storace (1762-96); Giovanni Paisiello (1740–1816); Thomas Linley (1756–78)

Lyrics by Michael Williams, text by Janet Plater. Music compiled by Mark Tatlow. A Buxton International Festival production, with the Northern Chamber Orchestra.

The World Premiere of a specially commissioned 40th Anniversary opera pasticcio, celebrating the life and times of Georgiana Cavendish, the 5th Duchess of Devonshire.

Thanks to The Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust, Granada Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Ida Carroll Trust and members of the Georgiana Syndicate for their support.

Sun 7 – Sat 20 July 2019

Eugene Onegin

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–93)

Libretto by the composer, based on Alexander Pushkin’s novel in verse. Sung in English, with side-titles. A Buxton International Festival production, with the Northern Chamber Orchestra.

Artistic Director Adrian Kelly makes his conducting debut at Buxton International Festival with this production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.

Eugene Onegin is a classic tale of first love and painful rejection; of broken friendships, love and regret. When the young, romantic Tatyana is introduced to the dashing, unconventional Eugene Onegin, she believes that he is the hero of her dreams. However, he rejects her, flirting instead with her sister Olga, which angers Lensky, Olga’s fiancé and Onegin’s only friend. What follows will change all of their lives forever.

Sun 7 – Sat 20 July 2019

Lucio Papirio Ditattore

Caldara (1671-1736)

A Buxton International Festival production in collaboration with La Serenissima.

The story of family strife in pre-Imperial Rome, this forgotten gem by the Italian composer Antonio Caldara, featuring jubilant choral writing and dazzling virtuoso arias, is a perfect vehicle for the dynamic, Gramophone Award-winning baroqu ensemble La Serenissima.

Sun 7 – Sat 20 July 2019

Dame Sarah Connolly

Dame Sarah Connolly is an artist of extraordinary breadth and sincerity. In this selection of some of her finest performances, we see her embody two very contrasting Handelian heroes, Julius Caesar and Ariodante, and we savour some of her exquisite song singing from London’s Wigmore Hall.

With thanks to Glyndebourne Festival and Wigmore Hall

BBC Philharmonic

The BBC Philharmonic introduces Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A, K414, conducted by Omer Meir Wellber (with a special message for BIF viewers).

With thanks to the BBC Philharmonic, Julian Gregory, violin & Gary Farr, trumpet.

Charles Moore in conversation with Matthew Parris

Charles Moore talks to Matthew Parris about his book Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography, Volume Three: Herself Alone.

Charles Moore is the authorized biographer of Margaret Thatcher and a former editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator and The Sunday Telegraph, his brief from his subject was that the book was not to appear in her lifetime nor was she to read it. Matthew Parris is columnist for The Times and The Spectator and a much-loved radio broadcaster including Great Lives on BBC Radio 4. Matthew entered Parliament in 1979 as the Conservative MP for West Derbyshire.

Gill Hornby

Gill Hornby on Miss Austen interviewed by Vicky Dawson, BIF Director of Books.

Gill Hornby’s acclaimed new novel takes a literary mystery that has long puzzled academics and delivers an utterly convincing and enchanting story that questions the idea of legacy, remembrance and what constitutes a happy life.

Laura Thompson

Laura Thompson on Take Six Girls: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters interviewed by Vicky Dawson, BIF Director of Books.

Laura Thompson returns to BIF to discuss the perennially fascinating Mitfords. Appearing to be present and connected to momentous events across the Twentieth Century, Laura discusses Mitfordian confidence and charm alongside the darkness and light of their lives.