Northern Aldborough Festival to launch with Hallé Orchestra

A music festival set in a picturesque Roman village near York is to launch its 2010 programme with the help of one of the world’s greatest orchestras, the Hallé Orchestra.

In an opera gala to mark the opening of the Northern Aldborough festival on Thursday 17 June, the Hallé will accompany two of the UK’s best-known opera singers, soprano Mary Plazas and tenor John Hudson at Rudding Park Hotel. Other artists appearing at the festival include Sony Artist and Cardiff prize-winning soprano Elizabeth Watts, the Northern Sinfonia, the recent Leeds prize-winning pianist Alessandro Taverna and the virtuoso violinist Madeleine Mitchell, who will also be giving a masterclass for talented local violinists. There are also appearances by sonic.art, an up-and-coming saxophone quartet from Germany, a Latvian accordionist and a newly staged version of Saint-Saens’ Carnival Of The Animals featuring local schoolchildren.

It is an eclectic programme, admits the new artistic director Robert Ogden, but one that he hopes will bring the drama and excitement of world-class music-making into a more intimate arena.

“Pop or rock music audiences regularly enthuse about seeing their favourite artists in small, intimate venues. They feel a kinship with the artist and an involvement in the performance. Classical music in the right hands is no different, and the impact of a world-class orchestra and soloists performing to just 260 people at Rudding Park should be an unforgettable experience,” he says.

“Throughout the festival I have aimed to showcase artists that are not only among the best in their field, but also charismatic performers,” adds Ogden, who as a countertenor sang roles for opera companies including the Washington Opera, Scottish Opera and Norwegian National Opera before running Landor Records, an artist-led label.

“With the uncertainty in the recording industry at the moment, live concerts really are the best way to communicate the sheer energy and pleasure in performing classical music, and I feel sure that this year’s artists will give us some memorable performances.”

The last night of the festival is traditionally a non-classical event, and last year’s Abba tribute band attracted 1200 concertgoers to the beautiful grounds of Aldborough Manor. On Saturday 26 June, Pop Goes the 80s, a fully costumed touring theatre show, will resuscitate the sounds and fashions of that decade in all their garish glory. The support slot is filled by the talented Harrogate Youth Jazz Orchestra.

“It’s a celebratory way to close the festival, a true family event, and we keep the ticket price as low as possible,” says David Lovell, the festival chairman.

“Last year you could see four generations of the same family dancing together and enjoying the fireworks, and I think that is something very special.”