Ryedale Festival - Italy, monks, Donald Swann and more

The Ryedale Festival opened with a bang on Friday (11 July) with a performance of Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (1610), conducted by Robert Hollingworth at Ampleforth Abbey with performers including monks from the Abbey. Festival director Christopher Glynn has an Italian theme running through the festival, with Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea being given by Ryedale Festival Opera at Ampleforth College Theatre, La Serenissima performing Vivaldi concertos (including those concertos), and the Fieri Consort in Monteverdi and Gabrieli. Festival finishes on 27 July with a gala concert being given by the Royal Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Rebecca Miller, at Hovingham Hall.

Along the way there are performances from the orchestra of Opera North, the Endellion String Quartet, the Scottish Ensembles, Genesis Sixteen, Christiane Karg (accompanied in Richard Strauss by Christopher Glynn) and Clare Hammond. There is a day devoted to the great songwriter Richard Rogers, and a celebration of Donald Swann,

The festival takes place in and around Ryedale in North Yorkshire, taking advantage of many of the lovely venues available. So if you live in the area, or are holidaying there it is certainly well worth a visit. Full information from the festival website.