Julian Lloyd Webber is the star musician opening Harrogate International Festival’s 21st Spring Sunday Series.
The Series, which will be performed at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate from January to April, boasts some of the brightest musical talent from around the world.
Sharon Canavar, CEO of Harrogate International Festivals, said:
This truly is a remarkable Series. It’s a chance to catch world-class musicians who headline in the world’s most prestigious venues on our doorstep in Harrogate. We’re particularly thrilled to open the Series with Julian Lloyd Webber, who first played at our Festivals relatively unknown in our Young Musician series.
Lloyd Webber is regarded as one of the finest musicians of his generation. He will be performing with his wife, cellist Jiaxin Cheng, and pianist Pam Chowhan on Sunday 26 January in ‘Tale of Two Cellos’. Lloyd Webber has collaborated with Sir George Solti to Elton John, and his programme explores his eclectic styles from the music of his brother, Andrew Lloyd Webber to Bach and Vivaldi.
There will be four more concerts in the Series. Christian Zacharias, performing on 9 February, is a globally celebrated pianist. His rendition of Beethoven Piano No.12 was hailed by the Financial Times as “worth travelling to the furthest corner of the land” for, and will feature in his Harrogate programme.
The Navarra String Quartet , who play on 2 March, has been hailed as ‘nothing short of sensational’, with a programme featuring the soulful music of Latvian composer Peteris Vasks.
Violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky appears on 30 March. A soloist with the world’s leading orchestras, the Russian is renowned for his bold playing and intense subtlety that has prompted ‘tears of happiness’ from reviewers.
The Series closes with pianist Young-Choon Park. The South Korean, a child prodigy who went on to a global career, is acclaimed for a passion that’s matched with technical proficiency, her programme of Beethoven and Chopin promise an emotional rollercoaster for an unforgettable finale.
Tickets priced £15.50 and £17 are now on sale at the Festivals Office on 01423 562303 or visit www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com for more info. A 10% discount is offered when booking for all five concerts.
