Chester’s summer festival season kicks off this week with the start of 13 weeks of cultural activity that include the MBNA Chester Music Festival, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and Moonlight Flicks outdoor cinema.
Opening the season is the MBNA Chester Music Festival, from June 3–13 - 11 days of concerts, recitals and performances will be staged in Chester Town Hall, Cathedral and St John the Baptist Church.
The festival once again hosts some of the finest musicians from the UK’s most prestigious orchestras including the Liverpool Phil, Halle and Manchester Camerata.
The Manchester Camerata orchestra take to the cathedral stage on Thursday, June 4 with an evening of Mozart and Bach.
On Friday, June 5, Cheshire’s own Sophie Rosa will perform a solo concert for Chester Town Hall audiences, which will include the works of Schubert, Elgar, Brahms and Chopin. She will be joined by Ben Powell on piano.
Saturday, June 6 has a jam-packed programme including festival first Saxophone Education Day inviting saxophonists from across the region to a workshop lead by the Royal Northern College of Music’s Rob Buckland.
On Saturday evening, Northgate Street will be alive with music as two concerts are performed simultaneously in the Cathedral and Town Hall.
Manchester Camerata return to perform Haydn’s La Passione symphony in the Cathedral - and world premiere performances of new compositions by Rob Buckland with pianist Peter Lawson.
Week one of the festival ends with a vibrant evening of jazz as Simcock returns to play piano for the jazz-world’s star Liane Caroll.
Andrew Bentley, chief executive, Chester Performs, said: “This year’s festival is a great showcase which brings world-class talent to Chester and the region.
“There are really wonderful concerts to look forward to including world premieres, festival firsts, the return of the wonderful Ensemble Deva who are thrilled to be performing in Chester again, plus the Gran Caffe Venezia concert that sold out very quickly.
“We look forward to welcoming these amazing performers to Chester, as the festival continues to grow and improve year on year.”
Mark Elliott, director of corporate affairs at MBNA, said: “We are proud to be a major supporter of art and culture in Chester.
“With the forthcoming and much anticipated cultural centre just round the corner, and a year of exciting events ahead, MBNA is delighted to once again be supporting the Chester Music Festival this summer.”
To buy tickets and find out more visit www.chestermusicfestival.co.uk call 0845 241 7868 or drop into Chester Visitor Centre, Northgate Street.
