Organ Festival announces July events

The St Albans International Organ Festival has announced its 29th programme.

As you would expect from this prestigious event, many internationally recognised stars will be performing. Talented local artists also feature heavily, including St Albans teenager Julian Trevelyan (laureate of the Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition and twice a BBC Young Musician semi-finalist), Harpenden-based Amici Voices, St Albans Cathedral Choir, St Albans Bach Choir and the St Albans Mosaic Chamber Choir. The IOF Fringe will offer still further talent with excellent local music, inspirational guests and chances for everyone to join in.

Events will take place from 10 to 22 July in historic venues all across St Albans and also in prestigious London concert halls, and tickets are now on sale.

Large-scale events at St Albans Cathedral include Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the Choirs of St Paul’s Cathedral, Temple Church and St Albans Cathedral. Handel’s Messiah will be conducted by Laurence Cummings in the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire’s Charity Concert, performed by London Handel Festival Orchestra and two St Albans-based choirs with internationally acclaimed vocal soloists.

The Festival’s programme of solo and ensemble music features renowned artists alongside young up-and-coming performers. Events include four late-night performances by candlelight in St Michael’s Church – the most significant surviving Anglo-Saxon building in the country – and the Festival’s long-established Bach Corner series with four free lunchtime concerts in St Albans Cathedral.

Renowned pianist Barry Douglas will perform a programme including Schubert’s D960 sonata and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition; Young People’s Puppet Theatre and Beaumont School will present collaborative performances of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

At the heart of the Festival is the organ competition. The distinguished jury members will each also perform over the course of the Festival.

Other events will include an Art Exhibition in 14th-century Kingsbury Barn and an expanding Fringe across the city centre in the ten days leading up to the Festival.

See www.organfestival.com for the full programme and booking details.

For more information visit http://www.organfestival.com/