Archive: This article describes the 2021 festival. For the current programme and tickets, visit Buxton International Festival.

Buxton International Festival returned from 8 to 25 July 2021, with a programme of opera, music and books. Public booking was scheduled to open on 4 May 2021.

The festival celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019. Its 2021 plans anticipated pandemic precautions including reduced capacity, face coverings, hand-sanitiser stations and enhanced cleaning.

2021 opera programme

The advertised programme included Malcolm Arnold’s The Dancing Master, a co-production with conductor John Andrews; Handel’s Acis and Galatea, a co-production with the Early Opera Company conducted by Christian Curnyn; a new production of Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon; and Jonathan Dove’s The Enchanted Pig, a Platform 3 production.

Musical on the programme

The festival also programmed its first musical, A Little Night Music, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. The co-production with Buxton Opera House starred Janie Dee, was directed by Paul Kerryson and conducted by Wyn Davies.

Book series

The advertised books programme included events on land reform, British prime ministers, reparations for the slave trade and the future of Brexit Britain.

Find out more at buxtonfestival.co.uk