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Internationally Acclaimed Opera to perform in Northumberland Music Festival

It has been announced today that the inaugural Northumberland Music Festival is to be held over 10 days this Autumn at three of Northumberland’s finest houses, Guyzance Hall, Doxford Hall and Eshott Hall. The programme will feature established musical companies and groups from around the country, including the nationally acclaimed Garsington Opera. The Festival is the brainchild of Mr Robert Parker, who owns the three Halls, and who has a great love of all types of music. Recently purchased with his wife Gina, the houses provide the perfect back drop for the planned musical performances.

 The Northumberland Music Festival [www.nmfestival.com] will feature performances of music from the complete range of musical interests, from Sullivan to Schubert, and from Grand Opera to Colliery Band. Performances will take place at all three venues between 28th October and the 6th November. The aim is of this inaugural festival is to set the stage for the future, and to offer a variety of styles to suit a range of tastes. The ultimate aim is to make the Festival one of the foremost music events in the North of England.

One further unique feature of the concerts will be the menus that accompany the programme! Good food will feature alongside the music at most of the events, and it will match the style of the music. Pie and Peas will accompany the Brass Band, and a Champagne Supper will be available to toast the singers in the Gilbert and Sullivan.

Robert Parker tells us of the plans for the future he and his fellow festival trustees have: “We intend to make the festival an annual event, and the first year will show some of the ideas we intend to develop. We have gone for concert style performances this year, but in 2012 most opera events scheduled will be full scale productions. The Festival will not only promote music in the region, it will offer opportunities for both schools and individuals to participate.”

The musicians who will perform in the festival come from both home and away. Garsington Opera , renowned for its month long summer festival featuring major, full-length operas by Mozart, Vivaldi and Verdi, will open the festival with two classical opera concerts featuring highlights from their summer programme. They will perform Gilbert and Sullivan at their two concerts to conclude the Festival on the 5th and 7th November at both Eshott and Doxford .  This festival is also a first for Garsington – it is the first time that Garsington has performed away from home as Robin Newton Head of Music for Garsington Opera explains:

“We are very excited to be coming to Northumberland as we are trying to take Garsington Opera to a new audience and to give wider opportunities to younger British singers. As yet the programme is not finalised, however we will be performing a selection of well known operatic excerpts and a Gilbert and Sullivan programme.”

The Polyphonic Brass Quintet from Manchester has a repertoire from the Renaissance to today, and has performed in the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, and the Cheltenham Festival.  The Kingsmead Quartet who have made TV performances are 4 string players who have played together for 12 years.  The Durham Miner’s Association Brass Band proudly represents the musical tradition of the North East and has filled the air at numerous festivals, as well as the Sage, Gateshead.  Northumbrian Pipes and Fiddles is a locally based duo whose popularity follows them wherever they go, whether it’s Alnwick, Sweden or Surrey.

A percentage of all ticket sales from the Festival will be donated to three charities, Macmillan Cancer Support, Great North Air Ambulance, and HospiceCare North. Robert Parker continues: “Local people are proud of their support for local and national charities, and we are keen to continue this through the Festival. We want the event to make a contribution to Northern Life, both by bringing music to the region and by contributing to local causes that are close to people’s hearts.”