One of the country’s most revered composers – Sir Edward Elgar – and his musical legacy is celebrated at the annual Elgar Festival, which takes place in the heart of ‘Elgar Country’ – Worcester and Malvern - across the week closest to his birthday on 2 June.
The Elgar Festival is established as a major event in the national festival calendar. Lauded as Critic’s Pick in The Guardian in 2018 and featured as one of the top 20 Jubilee events in 2022, it offers a wide programme combining concerts of popular repertoire and new commissions performed by internationally recognised guest artists as well as the cream of the region’s musicians, with talks, masterclasses, workshops, film screenings and family-friendly events.
Amongst highlights this year are symphonic and ensemble concerts given by the Festival’s orchestra-in-residence - English Symphony Orchestra (ESO) - under their Principal Conductor and Festival Artistic Director, Kenneth Woods. World-renowned guest artists taking part include Raphael Wallfisch, Gareth Brynmor John, April Fredrick, Simon Callaghan and David Briggs. This year's featured composer is Worcestershire's very own Ian Venables. Tickets are on sale now - more inforamation is provided on the website.
(Photo, Michael Whitefoot)