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Festival director George Vass and Helen Lawrence, one of the organisers |
Festival ‘the best so far’
‘Fantastic’ increase in audiences
THE most popular Hampstead and Highgate Festival yet has brought bumper box office takings, according to organisers.
The annual celebration of artistic talent in the area – sponsored by the New Journal – ended on Saturday with a gala concert at Hampstead Parish Church. Audiences at festival events were up to 20 per cent higher than in previous years.
Highlights this year included talks by literary figures Melvyn Bragg, Tracey Chevalier and Deborah Moggach, the world premiere of a work for cello and piano by James Francis Brown and the results of the first festival competition for young composers.
Central musical themes included birthday anniversary celebrations for composers Mozart and Shostakovich and performances of two of former Hampstead resident Arthur Bliss’s most important works.
Festival director George Vass said he was delighted with the success of the event, which arts lovers had now “taken to their hearts”.
He added: “The audiences this year have been absolutely fantastic.
“They have gone up quite considerably since last year.
“People have taken ownership of the festival. It was set up for people in Hampstead and Highgate and they have realised that, which is great.”
Mr Vass, who has been artistic director of the festival for three years, added: “It’s a question of marrying up artists and venues and trying to get it right. I think our venues worked very well this year.
“Pianist Tessa Uys at Lauderdale House worked particularly well.
Hampstead Parish Church is an amazing venue and Christ Church which was a new venue this year, was fantastic.”
– see Music in the Review |
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