FESTIVALS

Line-up for 1971

RODNEY MILNES

The Festival is largely a post-war phenomenon, and one which grows each year. The range is bewildering, from small local communities gamely showing what they can do, to international juggernauts of world class (and achievement) like Edin- burgh. The elements are as varied, and very often accompanied by the complaints of local worthies about how much festivals cost whilst making considerable amounts of money out of the tourists they attracta case of groaning all the way to the bank. But whatever the cultural or ethnic attractions, a festival first and foremost celebrates a place. The combined participation of Richter, Rostropovitch, Klemperer, Caballe and the Berliner Ensemble, would scarcely persuade anyone to spend more than twenty-four hours in, say, Slough, whereas a fortnight in Edinburgh, still one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, would be rewarding even if the offerings were restricted to the Greenland Folk Dance Group and the finals of a European Sheep-Dipping Competition, But festivals do furnish an outlet for those follies and fantasies to which we British are fatally drawn. Grown-up people lurking sheepishly round Victoria station in full evening dress in mid-afternoon are now part of our way of life (Glyndebourne starts this weekend), but where else in the world would you find a torchlight re-creation of the cremation of the Emperor Severus (York, 13 October) or a Ladies' Pairs Bowls com- petition in Pilgrim Costume (Plymouth, 14 June)? Traditional fare, not fantasy, is the basis of the list that follows, but oddities may creep in.

ALDEBURGH 4-27 June

A sort of Bayreuth-sur-Mer, only more human. Films by Rene Clair, Richter playing Bach, Britten conducting Gerontius and ac- companying Pears in Winterreise. Noye's Fludde and The Rape of King Arthur, a new Oboe Concerto by Richard Rodney Ben- nett, a lecture by Hans Keller entitled `Originality and Influence', and a celebration of E. M. Forster.

BATH 28 May-6 June

High rating, of course, as a place, though events now fan out to Bristol, Wells and Bradford-on-Avon. Academy of St Martin's (Mozart in the Abbey), Delius sung in the open air, the Royal Opera in concert performance of the Barber, the Amadeus Quartet and a lecture on Art Nouveau illustrators by Ian Fletcher.

BATTLE 16-25 July

Music, jazz, a lecture recital on brass instruments, and `Merrie England', an en- tertainment of music and poetry from twelfth to twentieth century complete with country wines.

BEXHILL-ON-SEA 22-27 June Two concerts by the CBSO, two winetasting sessions, a talk and a concert by Edmundo Ros, and the participation of the All-Student Choir of the Shenandoah Conservatory, the All-Student Symphonic Band and Chorus of USA, and Dame Sybil Thorndlike on J. Cl (London) Bach.

CHELTENHAM 2-11 July A tightly organised celebration of three themes: Scandinavian music and musicians (Bergen Symphony Orchestra, Danish String Quartet and Blomdahl, Sibelius, Nielsen etc.); new British music (Maw, Fricker, Le Fanu); and Haydn's instrumental, chamber and orchestral music (complete with lectures by Hans Keller and Sir William Glock). An invigorating town, and sensible programme building—a powerful combination.

EDINBURGH 22 August-11 September

Twenty-five years old, and an international event. British premiere of Aribert Riemann's Melusine by the Deutsche Oper, and Teresa Berganza in Cenerentola. The first European appearance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Solti and Giulini. The Royal Danish Ballet, Music Theatre Ensemble with Goehr and a new work by Melanie Daiken, the Young Vic, Prospect's King Lear, Menuhin, Fournier—the big guns, and for three whole weeks.

GLOUCESTER 21-27 August The oldest Festival of all, the Three Choirs, a week of truly solid music-making sometimes unfairly looked down on by the snootier

London critics. Rebuilding of the organ is celebrated with a new concerto by Peter Dickinson, played by Simon Preston.

HARROGATE 1-14 August

Festival of Arts and Sciences. A valuable series of young musicians' concerts in the mornings—chamber and instrumental as well as schools' orchestras. Academy of St Martin's, Lso, English Chamber Orchestra and Netherlands Wind are the musical heavies, and a new choral work has been commissioned from Peter Aston. The Lon- don Contemporary Dance Theatre gives two separate programmes.

HASLEMERE 16-24 July

Britain's second oldest festival, devoted to early music and under the Dolmetscb aegis. We reach C. P. E. Bach and Vivaldi by way of such lightly trod paths as Clerambault, Gratin, Legrenzi and Boismortier, and there is a programme of 'Shakespearian music' on instruments mentioned in the plays.

KING'S LYNN 23.31 July

Opens with Lord Eccles and closes with fireworks—a thoughtful arrangement. In between come the Halle, Julian Bream, the Nottingham Playhouse Company and a con- cert by the ECO in which no less than three new works will be performed (Lennox Berkeley, Elizabeth Maconchy, Nicholas Maw). Gerald Moore playing piano duets with Ruth Fermoy and an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelites from private collections; one of the year's most enticing programmes.

LLANDAFF 6-16 June Music, based largely on the Cathedral (Ls% BBC Welsh, Missa Cambrensis commissioned from Grace Williams), but with Phoenix Opera's Albert Herring at the New in Cardiff and a recital by Moura Lympany.

NOTTINGHAM 10-25 July Heartily supported by local industry. RPO un- der Kempe is a good catch, though the music opens with the Monteverdi Vespers in $outhwell Minster. The Playhouse Company presents a newly-translated Feydeau and Sophocles's Antigone. Important jazz and folk contribution,.The Yeoman of the Guard on the Castle Green, a late-night revue and the Arts Council's travelling open air exhi- bition of inflatable sculpture, Blow Up '71, and don't miss the Fuselis in the Castle Museum.

PERSI-10RE 26 June-4 July A largely locally supported venture, natu- rally based on the abbey—organ recital by Rodney Baldwyn, concert by Orchestra du Camera, and an exhibition of Liturgical Art in Wyre Church.

PLYMOUTH 12-16 June Elizabeth Fortnight. Hearty and open-air rather than stuffily cultural. Trampoline demonstration by REME (with audience participation), an Elizabethan Pageant, the Hoe Show (including a display by the Princetown Prison Dog-Handlers' Team of Guard Dogs), and a Bathing Belle contest accompanied by the Life Guards' Band.

READING 12 June-10 July 'Festival of a Total Town'. Six-a-side foot- ball, .John Williams guitar recital, British Rail open day, Campoli playing the 'Beethoven, a Rabbit Show, Pressed Flower Exhibition and the ECO.

ST ALBANS 28 June-3 July

The Sixth International Organ Festival, with competitions in interpretation and im- provisation. Solid fare in' the cathedral is leavened in the evenings by Dankworth and Laine, and Julian Chagrin.

STROUD 10-24 October The Twenty-fifth Festival, in a town that Combines Cotswold charm with the fascina- tion of early industrial revolution. Com- petitions are a special feature, this year for composers and poets (guest poet William Plomer). A new choral work, St Paul of Malta, from Alun Hoddinott, and an ex- hibition of works by Hoffnung.