We’d really like to know what your experience of Buxton Festival has been so far. If you have any reviews and comments on any of the events you’ve seen we’d love to hear them. Simply click on the ‘leave a comment’ link at the end of this post to have your say.
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We very much enjoyed the broadcast of the Sunday Service on 17th July with the Haydn Mass. Is it possible to get a recording of this wonderful Service?
By: Barbara House on July 20, 2011
at 7:38 pm
Monteverdi’s Flying Circus. Too much dialogue (twenty minutes in the second half, about the same in the first), not enough singing, and just enough gratuitous bad language to annoy an elderly audience. Silly me, should have read the programme more carefully, ‘text by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, a professional smart-Alec! I stayed because I had paid, but came close to walking at half time. Very poor show, waste of a sunny afternoon.
By: Alan Atkinson on July 22, 2011
at 9:32 am
Melvin Bragg’s talk on “The Book of Books” was a tour de force. So erudite and interesting and so accessible.
By: Caroline Robertson on July 22, 2011
at 1:21 pm
I have enjoyed this Festival very much so far. THe only disappointment was the Mahler sessions on Tuesday 19 July. THe talk “Mahler in Minature” was very informative but it was badly delivered because the speaker just read verbatim from a script without any eye contact with the audience while the performance of Mahler 4 was ruined by the antics of the conductor who seemed to want to dance the role of Petrushka. The well sung Mahler of Njabulo Madlada was spoiled by a chorus of page turners during the first song – the practice of giving out words spoils many concerts and it was noticeable that some of the audience only took notice of the performances in the African songs where there were no words. If you can listen in a string quartet without the score you can listen to a singer without text. The use of surtitles for “Saul” and “Mignon” was an insult to the singers’ diction and the lack of this abomination was wonderful in the Cimarosa where the audience had to concentrate.
By: Christine Gooder (Miss) on July 24, 2011
at 12:08 pm
The departure of Andrew Greenwood (to whom many thanks for 5 great festival years!) will no doubt bring some some good and some not so good changes to the festival’s opera scene. But, could I enter a plea for 1 change introduced during Andrew’s time (though whether it was of of his making I don’t know) NOT to be rescinded – namely the provision of English titles for productions sung in English. PLEASE continue with this approach – this year it added greatly to the Saul and Mignon productions.
Unfortunately “Surtitles” are an emotive subject and those “in control” of whether they are to be provided or not are often opposed to them for artistic reasons, seeing them as a distraction from the action, a crutch for lazy and un-engaged audiences and an implied criticism of the singers’ diction! All very well for directors who know the words inside out. If the new artistic director thinks like that DON’T listen to him!
It was a shame that the Cavalli didn’t have them – but I can possibly understand why a touring company might not have the equipment/time and money for all the venues they visit and don’t “blame” the Festival for that.
Just one minor criticism – the TV screen top left facing the stage looked like a 19″ screen (way smaller than the other 3!). The text on it reminded me of the bottom line of those eye test cards which even people with 20/20 vision struggle with! Yet, for some of us in the gallery, it was the most convenient screen to try to read.
By: Paul Tanner on July 24, 2011
at 3:00 pm
Saul 21 July : Congratulations to the Chorus who really made this Oratorio come alive for me. They acted, sang and danced and became an alive presence instead of the usual backdrop. The set was beautiful. This reminded me of Samson you did a few years ago, with an active chorus. Thanks for surtitles.
Italian Girl / Bampton 18 July A pity they did not provide even minimal Surtitles. Livia ( Kim Sheridan ) and Milord ( Robert Anderson ) both had such bad diction, it rather ruined everything , otherwise it could have been such a witty piece.
By: Gerard Dooley ( London ) on July 24, 2011
at 9:40 pm
It really gets better and better! Maria di Rohan was just superb and the very imaginative set was wonderful. Mignon too was excellent. There was no aspect to criticise – all was done to such a very high standard.
By: Jeremy Nichols on July 25, 2011
at 11:08 am
In thirteen years of attending Buxton Festival, the first time i have walked out midway through an ‘opera’ – ‘Greek’ what a load of tuneless, shouty, shrieky, nonsense -and pretentious to boot!
By: Alan Atkinson on July 31, 2011
at 3:06 pm
I had a great time except for the Saul which was sadly dreadful….full review on john-murphy.co.uk
By: John Murphy on August 5, 2011
at 8:58 am
Dear Barbara,
We’re delighted that you enjoyed the service. We don’t have a copy of this I’m afraid, as it was recorded by Radio 4. Unfortunately the service is no longer available on i-player, but you could contact BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship programme to find out if it possible to access it any other way. Here is the link the the website page you’d need: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012jdrw
By: buxtonfestival on August 30, 2011
at 12:48 pm