Buxton Festival 2007 Programme
Details of the 2007 Buxton Festival in Derbyshire Are Published
Buxton is the main town in Derbyshire's Peak District, one of England's loveliest National Parks, and in July this spa town puts on one of Britain's best arts festivals
Britain’s arts festivals are booming and one of the longest-established and best in Britain is the Buxton Festival, held every July. The beautiful spa town of Buxton is surrounded by some of Britain’s finest scenery. The small town is described as the gateway to the Peak District, which isn’t quite true. It’s more the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District, as although it isn’t actually within the boundaries of the National Park, it is surrounded by it.
Buxton is busy at any time of year, but never more so than when the Buxton Festival is on. Anyone hoping to visit Buxton during the 2007 Festival, which runs from 6-22 July 2007, should start making their arrangements as soon as possible. See the website below for bookings and a link to the Visit Buxton website too.
The Buxton Festival focuses on opera, music and literature. Literature lovers have a real feast in store, with famous writers appearing almost every day. Literary guests include Joanna Trollope, Claire Tomalin, Michael Frayn, John Simpson, Julian Barnes, James Naughtie, Andrew Davies, Antonia Fraser and Roy Hattersley.
Andrew Davies will be talking about his successful career adapting classic novels for the TV and movie screens, including Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, Moll Flanders, Tipping the Velvet and of course his several 'sexy' Jane Austen adaptations such as Northanger Abbey, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. Claire Tomalin will be talking about her acclaimed recent biography of Thomas Hardy. Two of Thomas Hardy’s mysterious stories, The Withered Arm and The Three Strangers, will be brought to life in one-man shows by actor Raymond Sargent. It’s an example of the way the Buxton Festival organisers try to link themes in their programme.
On the musical side there will be performances from top musicians from all over the world, including the Northern Chamber Orchestra, Jonathan Lemalu, Yevgeny Sudbin, the Pavel Haas Quartet and Peter Donohoe. Among the opera performances are Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux, Offenbach’s Blubeard, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Henry Purcell’s King Arthur and Georg Benda’s Romeo and Juliet.
There are plenty of other events going on too, to make sure that visitors to the Buxton Festival don’t spend all their time sitting in theatres and in the magnificent Buxton Opera House – as splendid as it is. There are several Buxton Town Walks to join, and a walk in Derbyshire’s Chee Dale, led by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. There will be a Buxton Ghost Tour as well, and demonstrations on how to prepare typical Derbyshire food by some of the region’s best chefs. All in all, then, it’s a recipe for a terrific Buxton Festival.
To find out more about the town of Buxton, including accommodation options, see the Visit Buxton website.
Visit the Buxton Festival website.
