Welcome to the Ryedale Festival 2018, bringing great music and top-class performers to beautiful and historic venues, in a unique and friendly atmosphere amid idyllic North Yorkshire countryside.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Royal Northern Sinfonia give major concerts at Hovingham Hall, the Choir of King’s College Cambridge are at Ampleforth Abbey and the Orchestra of Opera North bring an unmissable symphonic programme to Scarborough Spa. 

There’s a new production of Così fan tutte, Mozart’s great comedy of duty, desire and lost innocence. Other stories of growing up are explored too: in Alexandra Dariescu’s piano-ballet The Nutcracker and I. and a touching musical memoir of childhood by Alan Bennett.

The Albion Quartet and friends focus on Dvořák, exploring the folk-flecked optimism of his chamber music and songs to a series of morning Coffee Concerts; whilst a parallel series, Soli Deo Gloria, couples poetry (read by Alex Jennings) with music by Bach, who believed art should aim for the ‘refreshment of the soul’.

The Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir, is composer in residence. There are also festival residencies for the vocal ensemble I Fagiolini and viol consort Fretwork – both renowned for the vitality and freshness of their music-making – and the ground-breaking ensemble Chineke!, which champions diversity in classical music.

The great American pianist Richard Goode leads a sparkling line-up of soloists, including Tamsin Waley-Cohen, Gabriela Montero,Adam Walker, Kathryn Rudge, Elin Manahan Thomas, Benjamin Appl, Rachel Podger and Charles Owen, along with outstanding emerging artists such as cellists Kian Soltani and Sheku Kanneh-Mason. 

The festival celebrates the 90th birthday of its President John Warrack but also creates opportunities for a new generation of musicians and music lovers, with the Ryedale500 ticket offer, Young Artist Platform concerts and a series of masterclasses that gives local young musicians the chance to work with renowned visiting artists. 

There’s jazz too, both hot and cool, along with talks, literary events, an art exhibition and much more. And on the horizon, in 2019, an unmissable performance by the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder at York Minster.

‘Art that has to pay its own way is apt to become cheap’ said Dvořák once – and it is certainly true that a programme such as this is only possible because of the festival’s many generous supporters and volunteers. I’m thrilled to be able to share my enthusiasm for the music and musicians in this programme. I hope you find lots to inspire you in the festival and look forward to seeing you there.