Tickets are running out fast for the Oundle International Festival

Oundle International Festival is celebrating 30 successful years this summer by bringing together a delightful mix of classical music, opera and open air theatre to suit both adults and children under the leadership of newly appointed Artistic Director Kenneth Richardson.
Kenneth Richardson’s career has been spent in festivals, opera and music theatre, from Scottish Opera to The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, where he was General Manager and founded The Royal Opera’s Garden Venture which commissioned emerging composers and librettists to write new chamber operas.

Known originally as the go-to destination for outstanding organ recitals, Oundle International Festival organisers have diversifi ed over the years to work with world-leading performers of all musical genres. With such an in-depth knowledge of the vital ingredients necessary to put on a truly wonderful festival, it is no surprise that the 30th anniversary festival will be better than ever. The exciting line-up boasts both familiar faces returning to Oundle as well as new performers on the threshold of a professional career.

Whether it be chamber music or organ recitals, 1920s jazzy classical, brass bands, choral music or opera, there will be music to suit everyone’s taste. Headlining the festival will be internationallyrenowned classical trumpeter Alison Balsom, 2013 Gramophone Artist of the Year. A truly mesmerising trumpet player, she is set to thrill audiences in the beautiful setting of Oundle School Chapel, accompanied by the organist of Eton College, David Goode.
Performing later the same evening will be the Festival Chorus singing the electrifying Carmina Burana - music made famous, to the uninitiated, by the Old Spice adverts. The Choir of King’s College, London will be in residence during the festival to lead a meandering Bach walk through picturesque Northamptonshire villages, stopping at churches in Pilton and Stoke Doyle for music, and a pub for food along the way. The Choir will also perform Rachmaninov’s Vespers at Oundle School Chapel.

The Calefax Reed Quintet will recreate the gaiety of The Roaring Twenties with the music of Weill and Gershwin in collaboration with mezzo soprano Cora Burggraaf; chamber music treats will include the Aronowitz Ensemble with brothers Guy and Magnus Johnson, while early music and opera fans will have a rare treat as the Early Opera Company give a baroque performance of Handel’s Acis and Galatea.

Lunchtime recitals will feature young, up-and-coming artists including Mina Middleton from Thrapston on fl ute and last year’s winner of the Oundle Festival of Music and Drama, Irena Radić on piano. Of course, there will also be recitals from acclaimed organists including Ann Elise Smoot, Anne Page and Iain Quinn. And where better to watch Buster Keaton’s silent comedy classic The General accompanied by a soundtrack improvised by the virtuoso organist Richard Hills, than amidst the splendour of Peterborough Cathedral?

Also taking place at the Cathedral will be evensong with the Choir of King’s College, London and a recital by Henry Fairs of the Birmingham Conservatoire. If classical music doesn’t quite whet your whistle, the festival is bringing back a new favourite. Grab a group of friends, dress up as Baby or Johnny Castle and Sing-a-Long-A Dirty Dancing with an interactive screening of this hit classic at the Stahl theatre, or bring along the family and a picnic to a Party at the Wharf. Watch a line-up of local bands support outstanding guitarist Ben Smith perform live on a summer’s evening with his band down by the waterfront. Returning to the festival are the newly crowned National Youth Brass Band Championship Winners of Great Britain Youth Brass 2000. From Wilbarston in Northamptonshire, Youth Brass 2000 is planning on bringing a toetapping Irish set to the festival, followed by a tribute to the great bandleader legend, Glenn Miller, with the band in full USA airforce uniforms.

If it is theatre you’re after, then what could be more dramatic than an all-male cast, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, performing the world’s greatest love story, Romeo and Juliet? Or book to see the outstanding Illyria, performing Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine in an adaption by David Wood, full of largerthan- life characters, plenty to join in with and maybe just a twist of malicious fun.

The Oundle Food Festival will, once again, launch the festival fortnight with a Street Market on Saturday 5th July, see page 58 for details.

The Fringe Festival with street theatre will add to the carnival atmosphere at the market on the day. Oundle Fringe Week will be running from Monday 7th through Friday 11th July and sees Oundle thronged with entertainers of all genres in the town’s pubs, hotels, cafés and streets. You will fi nd anything from tribute bands to poetry readings, the blues to thumping rock, gentle sounds of classical French Parisian café music to comedy performances and maybe the odd Shakespearian ode or two drifting about town - not to mention the dancing! Once you arrive in Oundle during the fringe week, day or night, there is no escape, you will be entertained!

Visit www.oundlefringe.org for details of performers, venues, dates and times.

What better way to spend a warm summer’s evening than catching up with friends over a picnic, a glass or two of your favourite tipple and listening to a great line up of bands at the Wharf fi eld in Oundle? Well, that is exactly what you can do if you attend Oundle  nternational Festival’s Party at the Wharf this summer on Saturday 12th July.

utstanding guitarist Ben Smith and his band will headline the show with talented local support acts including Heroes and Cons and The Steradents. The event kicks off at 5pm. Bring your own picnic, drinks, tables and chairs or enjoy the catering and bar options on site including a whole host of street food vendors. Children of 12 years and under enter free.

Oundle International Festival is offering Village Connect readers the chance to win four adult tickets to this year’s Party at the Wharf. All you have to do is answer the following simple question:

Heroes and Cons cover hits from which famous band? Is it

a) Coldplay
b) Green Day
c) Oasis

Email your answer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Saturday 5th July.

Clue: If you don’t know the answer you can fi nd it by looking at the Oundle International Festival website at www.oundlefestival.org.uk

For full details of the Oundle International Festival programme or to book tickets visit
www.oundlefestival.org.uk or contact Oundle Box Offi ce, 4 New Street, Oundle PE8 4ED

Tel: 01832 274734

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
10am to 1pm Wednesday and Saturday - Sunday closed

Answerphone at other times.

Oundle International Festival

Oundle International Festival

Oundle International Festival

Oundle International Festival