Spectacular line-up for Chester Summer Music Festival

Jun 16 2011 Chester Chronicle

The Chester Summer Music Festival has long been one of the highlights of the city’s cultural calendar but year on year it becomes even more spectacular.

The 34th annual staging of the festival from July 1-16 promises a great line-up of established names, award winning musicians and rising stars.

Artistic director Andrew Cornall has put together a programme that showcases the finest in festival music – this year with a real international flavour with visiting artists from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Norway, Belarus and Russia.

At the heart of the festival remains the joy of choral music, whether its performed by choirs such as The Kings Singers, The Gabrieli Consort or community groups in The Big Sing.

There’s also the finale concert featuring The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Chester Festival Chorus.

Andrew said: “The festival is full of exciting and interesting concerts that will appeal to all tastes and ages and Chester really will come alive with music for two weeks.”

For lovers of jazz music, there is an opening performance by Stefano Bollani whose rare visit to the UK will astound the privileged Chester audience.

There is a cabaret evening with Claire Martin and Richard Rodney Bennett who bring their quirky and hugely entertaining music to the city.

Ruth Palmer brings the beautiful sound of the violin to three stunning venues and there are evenings of folk music performed by Pavel Sporcl and the Emily Portman Quartet.

The Summer Music Festival is proud to host performances by Doric String Quartet with Kathryn Stott, EMI’s new signing Tine Thing Helseth with her brass ensemble tenThing, 4 Girls 4 Harps, and Classical Brit award winner Jack Liebeck on violin.

If your lunch break has become monotonous and predictable perhaps a visit to one of the lunchtime concerts in St Mary’s Centre showcasing some of the very best young talent, will start the afternoon off with a new inspired perspective.

St Mary’s doors open at noon for sandwiches, tea and cake with the concert starting at 1pm.

The Chester Summer Music Festival runs for two weeks and features 12 evening concerts, seven lunchtime concerts, and one Big Sing! Weekend.

For all the festival concerts and ticket information, visit www.chesterfestivals. co.uk, where you will be able to view the whole programme and book, or call 0845 2417868.