Ryedale Festival announces Festival 2022 programme, including an anniversary celebration of Ralph Vaughan Williams amongst six world premieres
- Ryedale Festival will take place 15-31 July in North Yorkshire with 52 concerts involving over 30o performers.
- The programme includes six world premieres from Julian Philips, Errollyn Wallen and Tarik O’Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Joseph Howard, Roberts Balanas and Callum Au.
- Artists in Residence include Roderick Williams, the Maxwell Quartet, Philharmonia Baroque of San Francisco, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and the Gesualdo Six.
- Legendary performers like Dame Janet Baker and Stephen Kovacevich mingle with stars of the new generation such as the Kanneh-Masons.
- Concerts in famous and spectacular venues are balanced with daytime recitals in some of Ryedale’s quietest and most beautiful corners.
- A new partnership with the Richard Shephard Foundation is transforming the festival’s level of engagement with children across Yorkshire.
Ryedale Festival returns in July 2022 for a season of inspiring, world-class performances in beautiful and historic locations across North Yorkshire.
The summer festival programme features an exciting line up of artists-in-residence, world premieres and legendary performers. Audiences will explore one of the most beautiful areas in the UK as they move from venue to venue, from idyllic small village churches to stunning country houses and stately homes.
The festival finds a special place for the music of Handel, including a pop-up production of his magical opera Acis and Galateathat will visit three of the region’s most attractive and ancient churches. The music and legacy of Vaughan Williams will also be in focus this 150th anniversary year, as will the genre-blending brilliance of Errollyn Wallen, and the 50th birthday of Swedish supergroup ABBA.
Kicking off Ryedale Festival’s 5th decade, the Kanneh-Mason family opens the Festival on Friday 15 July with a concert from the seven brothers and sisters from Nottingham, aged between 11 and 24 years old. On Saturday 16 July Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason will be in conversation with Edward Seckerson in House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons, a joyful celebration of the extraordinary story of the Kanneh-Masons.
Six world premieres take centre stage at the festival. Julian Philips marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams with Looking West, a major new work inspired by the ancient stories and landscapes of northern England. Roxanna Panufnik’s Babyloniagoes on an imaginative journey to the Middle East, while Errollyn Wallen and Tarik O’Regan explore the myth of creation in their co-composed work Ancestor, which will be premiered by Philharmonia Baroque. Joseph Howard’s community song cycle Seven Merciescelebrates the heritage and local talent of Pickering, Robert Balanas will be debuting an ABBA medley for solo violin, and Callum Au is bringing a new work co-commissioned with Spitalfields Festival.
A strong line up of Artists in Residence will be delighting audiences throughout the festival. Roderick Williams leads two of the four concerts marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams with Christopher Glynn and fellow artists in residence the Maxwell Quartet, and will also lead a singing masterclass with talented young artists. The Gesualdo Six will perform two vibrant programmes in Ampleforth Abbey and Castle Howard.
An unmissable collaboration between the festival’s two ensembles in residence, National Youth Choir of Great Britain and San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque (in their first UK tour for over a decade) will present one of Handel’s Dixit Dominus, a tour-de-force of vocal and instrumental virtuosity that bubbles with the energy and exuberance of youth.
There is also a strong focus on Ryedale Festival Young Artists. Violinist Roberts Balanas performs a late-night candlelit concert, while the spellbinding Scottish accordionistRyan Corbett sets out on a ‘troubadour trail’ across Ryedale, bringing music – from the grandeur of Bach to the romance of Tchaikovsky – to beautiful and little-known churches across the region.Siân Dicker, soprano, and Krystal Tunnicliffe, pianist, create a relaxed, informal and interactive concert for people living with dementia, their friends, family and carers – and anyone else who would like to attend. And bassoonist Ashby Mayes collaborates with Krystal Tunnicliffe in an enterprising programme performed at one of the festival’s many Coffee Concerts.
Other highlights include the London Mozart Players with pianist/conductor Martin James Bartlett, The National Youth Choir of Great Britain performing a captivating programme on the theme of environment, Pete Long and Friends performing 100 Years of Jazz in 99 Minutes, and some of today’s fastest-rising soloists, including violinist Johan Dalene, cellist Bruno Phillipe, trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary, harpsichordist Richard Egarr, and pianists Rebeca Omordia and Alim Beisembayev.
Festival Masterclasses include a singing masterclass from Roderick Williams and a brass masterclass from Lucienne Renaudin Vary.
Dame Janet Baker is in conversation with Edward Seckerson and family concerts include a musical version of the modern children’s classic Izzy Gizmo.
For the final gala concert, captivating trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary joins the Royal Northern Sinfonia for a sunny-spirited concerto at the heart of an eclectic programme that also takes in the lyricism of two English romantics, a Bach-inspired work by Errollyn Wallen, and one of Haydn’s most rousing and witty symphonies.
A new partnership with the Richard Shephard Foundation is working in primary schools to is transform the festival’s engagement with children across Yorkshire and supports Seven Mercies, a new Community Song Cycle by Joseph Howard and Emma Harding, inspired by the famous murals of Pickering Church. A celebration of local heritage and talent, about countering difficult times through small acts of kindness, Seven Mercies will be performed on 21 May at the Church of St Peter and St Paul Pickering, and is one of two major elements of the festival taking place outside the main festival period in July.
Post Festival, on 29 October, the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus, Natalya Romaniw, Alice Coote, Thomas Atkins and James Platt with conductor Sir Mark Elder come together to perform Verdi’s mighty and dramatic Requiem in the stunning York Minster.
First-time ticket-buyers can come to selected events for only £10. Under 18s for only £5. And all are invited to enjoy the additional content that will be shared free-to-view on the Festival’s digital platform RyeStream.
Christopher Glynn, Artistic Director of the Ryedale Festival, said:
“From legendary artists like Dame Janet Baker to stars of the new generation like the Kanneh-Masons, we’ve brought together a line-up of international quality to perform in stunning locations across the beautiful area of Ryedale in North Yorkshire, from historic old churches to magnificent stately homes.
As always, the festival is a celebration of music and place, and how they can enhance each other. I’m especially pleased that we are working with the Richard Shephard Music Foundation to bring musical opportunities to primary school children across Yorkshire and that hundreds of tickets will be available from as little as £5 for Under 18s and first-time attenders. We look forward to welcoming music-lovers from far and wide to Ryedale this summer.’
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For further media information and interviews please contact Susie Gray, susie@thecornershoppr.com 07834 073795
Listings Information
FRIDAY 15TH JULY
7pm • St Peter’s Church, Norton
Opening Concert
Kanneh-Mason Family
SATURDAY 16TH JULY
3pm • St Michael’s Church, Malton
House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
8pm • St Mary’s Priory Church, Old Malton
Johan Dalene violin
Charles Owen piano
SUNDAY 17TH JULY
3pm • Helmsley Arts Centre
Family Concert
7pm • Duncombe Park
Pre-concert talk: Katy Hamilton
8pm • Duncombe Park
The Wanderer
Roderick Williams baritone
Christopher Glynn piano
MONDAY 18TH JULY
11am • Helmsley Arts Centre
Shakespeare’s Infinite Variety
Lucy Beckett speaker
3-5pm • Helmsley Arts Centre
Roderick Williams masterclass
7pm • Sledmere House and Church
Double Concert
TUESDAY 19TH JULY
11am • All Saints’ Church, Slingsby
Maxwell Quartet
2pm • All Saints’ Church Helmsley
Pre-concert talk
Katy Hamilton
3pm • All Saints’ Church, Helmsley
Acis and Galatea I
9.30pm • The Milton Rooms, Malton
Late-Night Folk
WEDNESDAY 20TH JULY
11am • Birdsall House
Margaret Fingerhut piano
3pm • St Mary’s Church, Lastingham
Acis and Galatea II
7pm • Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering
Pre-concert talk: Katy Hamilton
8pm • Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering
Mystical Songs
Roderick Williams & Maxwell Quartet
THURSDAY 21ST JULY
11am • St Nicholas Church, Husthwaite
Troubadour Trail I
Ryan Corbett accordion
3pm • St Michael’s Church, Malton
Acis and Galatea III
8pm • Birdsall House
Bruno Phillipe cello
Tanguy de Williencourt piano
FRIDAY 22ND JULY
1pm • Church of St Martin-on-the-Hill, Scarborough
National Youth Choir
3pm • St Hilda’s Church, Sherburn
Troubadour Trail II
Ryan Corbett accordion
8pm • The Milton Rooms, Malton
100 years of Jazz in 99 minutes
Pete Long and Friends
SATURDAY 23RD JULY
11am • Holy Cross Church, East Gilling
Troubadour Trail III
Ryan Corbett accordion
3-5pm • The Milton Rooms, Malton
Come and Sing ABBA!
8pm • St Peter’s Church, Norton
London Mozart Players
SUNDAY 24TH JULY
3pm • James Holt Concert Hall, Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band
6.30pm • All Saints’ Church, Kirkbymoorside
Alim Beisembayev piano
9.30pm • All Saints’ Church, Kirkbymoorside
Late-Night Candlelit Concert
Roberts Balanas violin
MONDAY 25TH JULY
11am • All Saints’ Church, Hovingham
Rebeca Omordia piano
2pm • Hovingham Hall
National Youth Chamber Choir
Philharmonia Baroque
7.30pm • Duncombe Park
Dame Janet Baker
in conversation with Edward Seckerson
TUESDAY 26TH JULY
11am • St Lawrence’s ’s Church, York
Music for a While
Rowan Pierce & Philharmonia Baroque
8pm • Ampleforth Abbey
The Gesualdo Six
WEDNESDAY 27TH JULY
11am • St Michael’s Church, Coxwold
Lucienne Renaudin Vary trumpet
Félicien Brut accordion
7pm • Castle Howard
Triple Concert
THURSDAY 28TH JULY
11am • St Oswald’s Church, Sowerby
Ashby Mayes bassoon
Krystal Tunnicliffe piano
3pm • The Milton Rooms, Malton
Dementia-friendly Concert
Siân Dicker soprano
Krystal Tunnicliffe piano
7pm • Duncombe Park
Stephen Kovacevich piano
9.30pm • St Gregory’s Minster, kirkdale
Late-Night Candlelit Concert
Richard Egarr harpsichord
FRIDAY 29TH JULY
11am • St Peter’s Church, Norton
Inner City Brass
3-5pm • James Holt Concert Hall, Kirkbymoorside
Brass masterclass
Lucienne Renaudin Vary
7pm • St Peter’s Church, Norton
A Garden of Good and Evil
Philharmonia Baroque
SATURDAY 30TH JULY
11am • All Saints’ Church, Hovingham
Siân Dicker soprano
Krystal Tunnicliffe piano
6pm • Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering
Pre-concert talk
7.30pm • Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering
Looking West
SUNDAY 31ST JULY
3pm • The Worsley Arms, Hovingham
Jazz in the Garden
5pm • All Saints’ Church, Hovingham
Festival Service
6.30pm • Hovingham Hall
Final Gala Concert
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Lucienne Renaudin Vary trumpet
PRE AND POST FESTIVAL EVENTS
SATURDAY 21 MAY
4pm • Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering
Seven Mercies by Joseph Howard
Kathryn Rudge mezzo-soprano
Christopher Glynn piano
Ryedale Primary Schools Choir
Ryedale Festival Community Choir
Katie Brier and Em Whitfield Brooks choir directors
SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER
7.30pm • York Minster
Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
Verdi: Requiem
Natalya Romaniw soprano
Alice Coote mezzo-soprano
Thomas Atkins tenor
James Platt bass
Sir Mark Elder conductor
GENERAL BOOKING OPENS WEDNESDAY 20TH APRIL
Box Office
ONLINE ryedalefestival.com
PHONE 01751 475777
IN PERSON Ryedale Festival Box Office (2nd floor), Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering, YO18 8AA
OPENING HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9.30am – 2.30pm
box.office@ryedalefestival.com
Priority Booking
Patrons, Members and Friends can buy tickets online, by post or by phone in the following priority periods:
PATRONS: April 5th to 8th
PATRONS and MEMBERS: April 8th to 12th
PATRONS, MEMBERS and FRIENDS: April 13th to 19th
Those aged 30 or under can sign up to the Young Friends scheme, which offers reduced price tickets to many festival events from as little as £2. For more details, please email box.office@ryedalefestival.com.
A limited number of reduced-price tickets are available from £10 for first-time bookers. Please see the website or call the box office for more details.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Ryedale Festival
Every year, the Ryedale Festival welcomes outstanding performers from all over the world to perform a wide-ranging and distinctive programme in the many spectacular venues in and around Ryedale, North Yorkshire – an area full of history and natural beauty.
The Festival enjoys a large, loyal and enthusiastic audience, the warm support of the local community and a reputation as one of the most exciting and enterprising summer festivals in Europe.
Events range far and wide across the area and performances are given in a range of stunning venues, including Hovingham Hall, Duncombe Park, Birdsall House, Ampleforth Abbey, Scarborough Spa and many gorgeous churches across Ryedale.
The market towns and villages of the region – principally Malton, Helmsley, Hovingham, Kirbymoorside and Pickering – have a special charm and seem not much changed for decades. Beautiful medieval churches, major stately homes and heritage spaces abound. The surrounding countryside encompasses the North York Moors and magisterial Howardian Hills, as well as vast rolling landscapes and wooded valleys through which the River Rye flows.
The breadth and depth of the festival’s impact is reflected at the box office, where it has achieved record-breaking ticket sales for ten years in succession. A recent five-star review by Richard Morrison in The Times recognised the remarkable growth and ambition of the festival, praising ‘the visionary direction of Christopher Glynn…a distinguished piano accompanist who has turned into an inspired programmer and a canny spotter of rising young talent.’
The Festival began in 1981 when four musician friends, Geoffrey and June Emerson, and Peter and Alex White, had the idea of launching a small series of local concerts. This first Helmsley Festival brought together more friends and other professional musicians and made an immediate impact on the town and its surroundings. So popular did it become that after five Festivals a broader base was called for, and the Ryedale District Council stepped in with the generous support, enabling it to grow. Before long, events ranged far and wide in the area to make a true Ryedale Festival.
Among many exciting and ambitious plans for the future, the festival recently created an online platform called RyeStream to share performances with music-lovers far and wide.