Movements around Buxton

Northern Chamber Orchestra at the Stoller Hall, Manchester

Now that he has stepped down as Buxton International Festival's artistic director, conductor Stephen Barlow has become patron of Northern Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra, which is the oldest professional chamber ensemble in the North West, has been in residence at the Buxton Festival since 2011. 

The announcement comes as the orchestra begins its 51st season, with concerts in Manchester, Macclesfield and London. Last year Barlow and the orchestra released an imaginative disc, Mind Music, with music by Richard Strauss, John Adams, and Kevin Malone supporting Parkinsons UK [see my review].

For those with long memories, one of Barlow's predecessors at Buxton, Aidan Lang (who ran the festival from 2000 to 2006) is returning from foreign climes (with stints at New Zealand Opera and Seattle Opera) to become the new General Director of Welsh National Opera in succession to David Poutney.