Organisers of the 2020 Buxton International Festival have released details of a replacement digital season which has been curated by artistic director Adrian Kelly and Vicky Dawson, the book festival director.
Buxton International Festival, recognised as one of the UK’s leading arts festivals, is a “summer celebration of the very best opera, music and literature”. The conventional festival has been cancelled for the first time in 40 years because of COVID-19.
One of the highlights of the free digital offering will be Kate Whitley and Laura Attridge sharing snippets from their opera oratorio Our Future In Your Hands.
There will be an exploration by High Peak Theatre Trust chief executive Paul Kerryson and Wyn Davies of the “genius” of Stephen Sondheim and his musical A Little Night Music while Adrian Kelly will discuss Rossini's La donna del lago with director Jacopo Spirei.
Former Derbyshire MP Matthew Parris will discuss the life of Margaret Thatcher with Charles Moore, the author of the third volume of her authorised biography, and Vicky Dawson will talk to authors Gill Hornby and Laura Thompson about their latest books. There will also be a crime panel hosted by Derbyshire-based crime writer Sarah Ward.
The BIF Digital 2020 Season will run from 13 until 25 July. Each event will be released at 4PM and will be available for the rest of the year.