Hello – and welcome to the Ryedale Festival 2025. In a world where screens replace shared experiences and digital playlists churn in the background, a festival reminds us of something irreplaceable: live music. Shaped by the players, the listeners and the space itself – a genuine, unrepeatable encounter of hearts and minds. 

This year’s Artists in Residence all capture that spirit. Jess Gillam inspires and enthuses audiences wherever she goes, shaping each performance as something unique. Claire Booth makes every note feel alive, every phrase part of a story. Timothy Ridout gives the viola a voice that is rich, human and full of nuance. They are joined by the peerless Quatuor Mosaïques, the captivating voices of VOCES8 and Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre – musicians who can transport us to places words cannot reach. 

Alongside them, artists such as Stephen Hough, Imogen Cooper and Thomas Trotter give unmissable recitals, while chamber music highlights include a journey with Haydn and Schubert. Orchestral concerts include Royal Northern Sinfonia, Opera North in Ripon, Arcangelo in Selby and a Festival debut for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. 

Partnering with BBC Radio 3, the Festival continues its commitment to showcasing the next generation of talent. We also retrieve music that has slipped through history’s fingers, reviving long-neglected works by Tippett and unveiling a new orchestration of a passionate work by Arthur Bliss. 

Jazz, folk and literature all weave into the programme. Pete Long salutes Duke Ellington and Kate Rusby shares age-old stories through song. Meanwhile, Harriet Walter channels Jane Austen’s wit and wisdom, poet Caroline Bird rises to a challenge from Schumann and composer Gavin Higgins answers Charlotte Brontë’s stirring call to ‘Speak of the North!’

Music is for every stage of life, so Concerteenies introduce even the smallest ears to the wonder of live performance, while Songs That Move taps into music’s transformative power for those with conditions such as Parkinson’s. And for those who love to sing, workshops led by VOCES8 and Eric Whitacre invite everyone to join in the joy of collective music-making. 

Later in the year, a Winter Weekend features Roderick Williams and a new Community Song Cycle exploring how music helps us weather the seasons of our lives. 

And it all takes place in beautiful and historic Yorkshire locations, from the splendour of Castle Howard to tiny, remote churches visited by mandolinist and resident ‘troubadour’ Alon Sariel. 

In Ryedale, music isn’t just something to listen to, it’s something to be part of. Read on to discover more about the programme and I look forward to seeing you there – welcome to the Festival!

Christopher Glynn
Artistic Director