The Budleigh Music Festival will back again this year and it will be welcoming back Roderick Williams, the well-known baritone, in a musical performance that will also feature Susie Allan on piano. Jenny Agutter, the TV and film Actress will be the narrator.
The Royal Philharmonic Society awarded Williams the singer of the year award in 2016, such is the talent of the flexible baritone who most recently appeared in the Britten opera, an Opera North production in which he was playing Billy Budd.
Also making an appearance during the festival will be Alexei Grynyuk from Ukraine. The pianist is no stranger when it comes to romantic, classical and 20th-century repertoire. He will be performing a recital on Monday and the performance will include Mussorgsky, Chopin and Scarlatti. Grynyuk has received a lot of praise from critics who have pointed out his unique grasp of touch and tone and his ‘transcendental virtuosity’. He is thought of as one of the very best artists in his field.
Soloists of The 12 Ensemble will also be performing on the 7th. This group is already building a reputation in London where they are considered one of the best-unconducted string orchestras. This comes as no surprise since the group members are some of the best chamber musicians that London has to offer. The group which is full of youthful energy was formed back in 2012.
The Exeter Cathedral Choir will also be performing at the festival for the first time ever. The choir will have all the necessary elements including the 36 boy and girl choristers, choral scholars and adult lay vicars. Of course, there will also be a top organist, harpist and percussionist. The choir is being directed by Timothy Noon.
There will also be a piano recital by Alexandra Dariescu from the Temple Methodist Church. She is one of the brightest talents on the piano at the moment and piano magazine recently named her among the 30 under 30 pianists with a bright career ahead of them. She has performed for many audiences around the world, dazzling people with her easy playing and stage presence.
The Festival Orchestra will obviously not be missing from this year’s festival. They have been part of the event since the beginning back in 2006. This time, the Artistic Director will be putting together professional players from all over the South West.