Festival rolls out the red carpet for gala night

Britain’s favourite opera singer Lesley Garrett rolls out the red carpet on July 6 when Buxton International Festival raises the curtain on its 2018 programme with a gala night of unforgettable tunes from the world of musical theatre and light opera.

Bernstein, Bizet, Berlin and Broadway come to Buxton Opera House for a feast of favourites such as Summertime, Some Enchanted Evening and I Could Have Danced All Nightwith the Northern Chamber Orchestra and soloists from Opera North.

“We’ve rolled out the red carpet for a gala which will pack the place out,” said Festival Chief Executive Officer Michael Williams. “We are committed to having a gala night every year for the people of Buxton.”

Conductor Nicholas Kok and the Festival in conjunction with the Opera House have brought the artists together for one night only to create a unique event designed equally to delight old friends and welcome new audiences.

Lesley is hosting the gala which will launch the Festival’s fortnight of opera, music and books as well as singing herself.

She accepted the role of patron of the Festival’s 40th Anniversary Appeal as a thank-you for its help when she was a young unknown.

“Forty years ago this Festival and I were in our professional infancy,” she said.

“I very much feel that we grew up together.  Buxton Festival gave me two formative roles in the early years of my career, as they have for thousands of other emerging artists like me. I owe this Festival a debt I quite simply cannot repay.”

As well as Bernstein’s Candide and Bizet’s Carmen, shows represented in the programme include Offenbach’s Orphée aux Enfers, Kurt Weill’s Street Scene and Lerner and Loewe’sMy Fair Lady among many more.

For full details of the programme, go to www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

Opening Night Gala is at Buxton Opera House on Friday 6 July at 7.30pmTickets are priced at £15 – £45. Discounts are not  available. To buy tickets contact Buxton Opera House Box Office, Tel: 01298 72190 or visit: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk