Brinkburn returns with a sizzling line-up for summer

May 24 2009 by Mieka Smiles, Sunday Sun

THE Brinkburn Music Festival returns in July 2009 with a sizzling line-up of world class singers and musicians – guaranteed to set the summer classical calendar alight for music lovers across the North East and beyond.

Opening on Friday, July 3, the festival will span two weekends and feature stars of the international opera world such as baritone Sir Thomas Allen and tenor Mark Padmore, as well as leading British Baroque group, Red Priest, the dynamic Anglo-Irish Carducci Quartet and Brinkburn favourites, Gabrieli Consort and Players providing a sneak preview of Haydn’s The Creation ahead of The Proms.

Set in the historic12th century Brinkburn Priory, the festival, now in its 16th year, opens in flamboyant style with baroque group, Red Priest.

Saturday’s family event at 3pm on July 4 welcomes back two members of Red Priest – Piers Adams and Howard Beach – for a concert of high-flying recorder music.

The day ends on a high note with a performance by The Carducci Quartet.

The first weekend closes with two choral treats, the first being led on Sunday, July 5 at 3pm by Brinkburn’s own artistic director Paul McCreesh and featuring the Gabrieli Consort.

This is followed at 5.30pm with an opportunity to join a Choral Evensong with the Brinkburn Festival Choir and some Gabrieli guests and a chance to experience the wonderful acoustic of the priory.

Pulling off a bit of a coup, the final weekend (July 10 - July 12) features two leading lights of the opera world accompanied by internationally acclaimed musicians.

The talented partnership of tenor Mark Padmore and pianist Paul Lewis, will make for a fantastic Friday evening when they perform a song cycle by Franz Schubert on poems by Wilhelm Müller.

Mark Padmore turns his attention to the talents of some of the finest young singers in the region at a Saturday afternoon masterclass, as he sets about offering advice and encouragement on honing their technical and performance skills.

Saturday night sees Sir Thomas Allen making a welcome return to his native North East for a captivating evening of song accompanied by pianist Caroline Dowdle. The festival closes on Sunday, July 12, at 3.30pm with Gabrieli Players, soloists and Chetham’s Chamber Choir performing a scaled down version of Haydn’s The Creation, which they will perform a week later at The Proms.

Further information about the festival programme can be found by visiting www.brinkburnmusic.org or by contacting 0191-265 7777.

Tickets go on sale from May 11 and are available by calling the Box Office at The Maltings Theatre & Arts Centre, Berwick-Upon-Tweed on Tel: 01289- 330999.