New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra

New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra with legendary conductor Libor Pesek and Singapore-born pianist Melvyn Tan head the line-up of world-famous names at this year’s King’s Lynn Festival.

Acclaimed violinist Tasmin Little returns to the Festival after 10 years, with the European Union Chamber Orchestra, in the wonderful setting of St Nicholas’ Chapel, nationally famous for its acoustic. The Vienna Mozart Trio is giving a unique summer UK performance and for early music lovers, Vivaldi specialists La Serenissima and Swedish-born harpsichord virtuoso Carole Cerasi perform on a dedicated ‘early music day`.

There is a splendid line-up of young prize-winning artists at the five coffee concerts, including Contemporary Consort who will be visiting King’s Lynn for the 11th year. As well as their evening performance, their morning coffee concert will include a clarinet quintet by the great British romantic composer, Charles Villiers Stanford alongside the Brahms Clarinet Quintet.

On a lighter note, leading British jazz singer Clare Teal makes her King’s Lynn Festival debut and The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain join the line-up with a completely new programme, Ulculelescope, in which they will play special compositions accompanying silent films.

Adding to the Festivals wide appeal will be Virginia Ironside’s hit Edinburgh Fringe show, a family event with former Python Terry ]ones and an introduction to modern art from Antony Penrose. There will also be illustrated lectures on Pompeii and Herculaneum, Scott of the Antarctic and Lynn`s North End Fishing Quarter.

The Festival exhibition will feature the work of Lynn-born artist and teacher Graham Dudley Page whose wood engravings were twice selected for the Royal Academy exhibition. He was also a watercolourist and his work is reputed to be influenced by Walter Dexter and the King’s Lynn Tradition.

The King’s Lynn Festival takes place from Sunday July 17 – Saturday July 30.

Festival Fringe Events
kingslynnfestival.org.uk