Ryedale Festival 10th - 26th July 2020
Booking dates to be announced soonRead about our response to COVID-19
Welcome to the Ryedale Festival
Hello and welcome to the Ryedale Festival 2020 – two weeks of inspiring performances in beautiful and historic spaces across North Yorkshire. At the heart of this year’s programme: a complete cycle of Beethoven’s sixteen string quartets, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth. There’s no adventure quite like it in all music. Come and marvel at music that has astounded, inspired, baffled and moved listeners for a quarter of a millennium.
Beethoven changed what and who music was for, as well as how it sounded. So the festival also celebrates the trailblazers and gamechangers of today. The arts and homelessness charity Streetwise Opera present an unmissable new show called After Winter, while artist residencies celebrate the passion and versatility of extraordinary performers like Abel Selaocoe and Anna Lapwood.
Major concerts are given by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Royal Northern Sinfonia at Hovingham Hall; the choir Tenebrae bring Joby Talbot’s modern masterpiece Path of Miracles to Ampleforth Abbey; and the Orchestra of Opera North play Beethoven and Mozart in one of Scarborough’s most beautiful churches.
The festival is honoured to welcome Dame Janet Baker, and to present the last ever concert given by the Endellion Quartet. Other performers include Ian Bostridge, Stephanie Childress, Richard Egarr, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Edward Higginbottom, Alina Ibragimova, Pete Long, Lara Melda, Cédric Tiberghien, Rachel Podger, Carolyn Sampson, Annelien van Wauwe, Errollyn Wallen and Roderick Williams.
Young and emerging artists have a special place in the festival too. They include an outstanding group of singers and players who will create a bespoke new production of Handel’s magical little opera Acis and Galatea for three of the region’s most beautiful and ancient churches. Also in the festival whirl: a great storm of musical joy and energy called Sirocco; a new opera based on Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park; a residency from the sparkling San Francisco group Philharmonia Baroque; the Scots folk singer of the year; and an unmissable Saturday night out with some of the country’s best jazz musicians.
Music makes good medicine and the arts lift wellbeing. So the festival also invites you to Come and Sing Vivaldi’s Gloria with an inspiring conductor and famous orchestra. Look out, too, for a dementia-friendly concert; a day of walking, sketching, music and poetry; free workshops for young performers; and a Drawing Journey with Resident Artist Jake Attree, who also presents a special festival exhibition.
At the time of writing, there is considerable uncertainty about the viability of public gatherings in the summer because of the need for social distancing. No final decision has yet been taken, as we want to give every reasonable chance for events to take place. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and our primary concern will be the health and wellbeing of our audience, artists, volunteers and staff.
The box office remains closed for the present. Updated details of booking periods and ticketing arrangements will be announced as soon as it is possible to plan with more certainty. I hope you enjoy browsing the programme – and thank you for bearing with us as we respond to such a quickly changing situation.
Christopher Glynn
Artistic Director
