Tuesday 28 March 2023

47th St Magnus Festival

Hoy Kirk
Hoy Kirk

Spanning a week across around midsummer, the 47th St Magnus Festival takes place from 16 to 23 June 2023 in and around Orkney. The artistic director is Scottish composer Alasdair Nicolson, and his multi-genre programme spans the world premiere of David McNeish’s new play, Thora, directed by Gerda Stevenson, Scottish Ballet’s festival debut, its first major outdoor installation from Architects of Air, and a strong music line-up. Venues include the Pier Arts Centre, St Magnus Cathedral, churches nestled scenically on the coast, Stromness Town Hall, The Writing Room at Kirkwall Hotel and the Pickaquoy Centre.

The musical events include a pairing of young Scottish stars accordionist Ryan Corbett and trumpeter Aaron Akugbo, the Hebrides Ensemble in Ravel’s orchestral works in new arrangements by Nicolson, and a strong Dutch contingent including pianist Nikola Meeuwsen, baritone Maarten Koningsberger and the Ragazze Quartet including Winterreise in an arrangement by Dutch violist Wim ten Have.

Other performers include Florilegium in three programmes, 18th-century French music, Bach and his contemporaries at the Café Zimmerman, and Telemann's Tafelmusik, Scottish cellist Findlay Spence in two innovative programmes from Bach to Berio in venues across Orkney, and an ensemble of accordions from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Magnificent Squeezebox

The Festival’s own Chorus, a community choir that comes together under the direction of Paul Rendall for the Festival, will perform Faure's Requiem at St Magnus Cathedral accompanied by an ensemble of visiting performers, conducted by Matthew Hamilton, the new director of the Hallé Chorus in Manchester, with soprano Hilary Cronin and the Dutch baritone Maarten Koningsberger. 

Full details from the festival website.

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