Bledington Music Festival

Celebrate famous British composer John Ireland, catch a world premiere and enjoy performances from top class international musicians – at the Bledington Music Festival 2012.

The annual classical music highlight Bledington Music Festival is back, taking place over three summer evenings this June and featuring top class performers from across the globe.

Getting underway from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 June 2012, a week later than normal because of bank holiday arrangements around the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, music lovers from all over will be making their way to St Leonard’s Church in the pretty village of Bledington – the setting for the coveted event.

And having grown every year since it was established in 2000, this year’s Bledington Music Festival is expected to be more popular than ever – recognising famous British composer John Ireland, who died 50 years ago, and featuring a world premiere performance on the opening night.

On Tuesday 12 June 2012 Alissa Firsova, on piano, and Jessica Hayes, on cello, will play John Ireland’s ‘Cello Sonata in G minor’ and Rachmaninov’s ‘Cello Sonata in G minor, Op 19’ – with their concert also featuring the anticipated world premiere of ‘De Profundis’ by Elena Firsova.

Wednesday 13 June 2012 will feature Lesley Jane Rogers, soprano, and Jennie-Helen Moston, piano, in a concert entitled A Celebration of our Glorious English Heritage. There will be music and songs by Elgar, Holst, Howells and others, including ‘Mother and Child’ by John Ireland, with words by Christina Rosetti.

The last night of the festival, Thursday 14 June 2012, will offer the chance to enjoy a recital of music by Chopin, Debussy, Liszt and John Ireland by Mark Bebbington on Piano – dubbed a ‘British pianist of the rarest refinement and maturity… a champion of British music.’

Whether this will be your first time at Bledington or you’ve been frequenting this unique festival for the past decade, get booking quick as tickets are once again expected to be snapped up.