Bath International Music Festival
Encyclopedia
The Bath International Music Festival, also known as the Bath Music Fest, is held each summer in Bath, South West England
. Inaugurated in 1948, the festival includes many genres such as orchestral, contemporary jazz
, folk
and electronica
. The Festival's current artistic director is Joanna MacGregor
.
to become artistic director of the Festival, a post he held until 1968. In 2006 Joanna MacGregor
was appointed the current artistic director.
The Festival has in the past included non-musical events such as talks and guided walks around the city, but now focuses exclusively on music. At certain times in its history, it has had its own choir, the Bath Festival Chorus; this last performed in 2005.
was appointed Artistic Director, and she has been instrumental in re-shaping the festival and bringing new audiences. MacGregor also performs at the festival (in both solo and collaborative roles) and gives piano workshops. The introduction in 2006 of a new format to the Festival saw electronica in the programme for the first time and a return to cross-genre collaborations which included Brian Eno
performing in the Bath Abbey alongside Bath Camerata. Recent highlights included the London Symphony Orchestra
, Sir Colin Davis, Maxim Vengerov
, McCoy Tyner
, and Alison Balsom
.
In 2008 Bath International Music Festival celebrated its 60th Anniversary.
, as well as a year round arts-in-education programme and a box office. It receives core funding from Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) and Arts Council England
. Other key sources of income are ticket and other sales, contributions from trust funds, private donors and a range of commercial sponsors.
Since 1981, the Bath Fringe Festival
has taken place at the same time as the music festival providing alternative forms of entertainment.
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. Inaugurated in 1948, the festival includes many genres such as orchestral, contemporary jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. The Festival's current artistic director is Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor is a classical, jazz and contemporary pianist.-Biography:MacGregor grew up in North London, and was educated at home by her Seventh-day Adventist parents until she attended South Hampstead High School at the age of 11. Her mother is a piano teacher who studied at the Royal...
.
History
Originally known as the Bath Assembly, the festival was first directed by the impresario Ian Hunter in 1948. After the first year the city tried to run the festival itself, but in 1955 asked Hunter back. In 1959, Hunter invited Yehudi MenuhinYehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
to become artistic director of the Festival, a post he held until 1968. In 2006 Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor is a classical, jazz and contemporary pianist.-Biography:MacGregor grew up in North London, and was educated at home by her Seventh-day Adventist parents until she attended South Hampstead High School at the age of 11. Her mother is a piano teacher who studied at the Royal...
was appointed the current artistic director.
The Festival has in the past included non-musical events such as talks and guided walks around the city, but now focuses exclusively on music. At certain times in its history, it has had its own choir, the Bath Festival Chorus; this last performed in 2005.
Programme
The Festival currently takes place during late May and early June. During this time classical music, international jazz, world, folk, contemporary music, and free-to-the-public events are staged throughout the city. In 2006, pianist Joanna MacGregorJoanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor is a classical, jazz and contemporary pianist.-Biography:MacGregor grew up in North London, and was educated at home by her Seventh-day Adventist parents until she attended South Hampstead High School at the age of 11. Her mother is a piano teacher who studied at the Royal...
was appointed Artistic Director, and she has been instrumental in re-shaping the festival and bringing new audiences. MacGregor also performs at the festival (in both solo and collaborative roles) and gives piano workshops. The introduction in 2006 of a new format to the Festival saw electronica in the programme for the first time and a return to cross-genre collaborations which included Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
performing in the Bath Abbey alongside Bath Camerata. Recent highlights included the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, Sir Colin Davis, Maxim Vengerov
Maxim Vengerov
Maxim Alexandrovich Vengerov is a violinist, violist, and conductor who was born in the Soviet Union.-Youth:Born on 20 August 1974 in Novosibirsk, Russia, to a family with musical tradition....
, McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
, and Alison Balsom
Alison Balsom
Alison Louise Balsom is an English trumpet soloist.-Early life:Balsom was born in Hertfordshire. She attended the Tannery Drift Primary School, then the Greneway Middle School and the Meridian School, all in Royston, Hertfordshire...
.
In 2008 Bath International Music Festival celebrated its 60th Anniversary.
Directors
- Ian HunterIan Hunter (impresario)Sir Ian Bruce Hope Hunter was a British impresario of classical music. Known as ‘Mr. Festival’ to many in the arts world, Hunter was one of the most important figures in a post-World War II cultural renaissance in the United Kingdom...
(1948) - John Boddington (1949–1955)
- Sir Thomas Beecham, Oliver MesselOliver MesselOliver Hilary Sambourne Messel was an English artist and one of the foremost stage designers of the 20th century....
, Hugh Beaumont (1955) - Yehudi MenuhinYehudi MenuhinYehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
(1959–1968) - Sir Michael Tippett (1969–1974)
- Sir Colin Davis, Jack PhippsJack PhippsJohn Richard Noel Phipps C.B.E. was a British arts administrator.-Origins and education:...
(1969) - Sir William GlockWilliam GlockSir William Frederick Glock was a British music critic and musical administrator.-Biography:Glock was born in London. He read history at the University of Cambridge and was an organ scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
(1975–1984) - William Mann (1985)
- Amelia Freedman MBE (1986–1993)
- Nod Knowles, Nicholas Kraemer and Jolyon Laycock (1994)
- Tim Joss (1995–2005)
- Joanna MacGregorJoanna MacGregorJoanna MacGregor is a classical, jazz and contemporary pianist.-Biography:MacGregor grew up in North London, and was educated at home by her Seventh-day Adventist parents until she attended South Hampstead High School at the age of 11. Her mother is a piano teacher who studied at the Royal...
(2006–present)
Bath Festivals
The Bath International Music Festival is organized by Bath Festivals Ltd, a long-established charitably registered independent arts company with charitable status. Bath Festivals Ltd also run the Bath Literature FestivalBath Literature Festival
The Bath Literature Festival held annually in Bath, Somerset, England, has become an important date in the national literary calendar, playing host to an array of journalists, novelists, poets, politicians, actors, comedians, writers and biographers....
, as well as a year round arts-in-education programme and a box office. It receives core funding from Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) and Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
. Other key sources of income are ticket and other sales, contributions from trust funds, private donors and a range of commercial sponsors.
Since 1981, the Bath Fringe Festival
Bath Fringe Festival
The Bath Fringe Festival is an annual art festival, held in Bath, England.Bath Fringe was founded in 1981 as a counterbalance to the 'classical'-dominated Bath Music Festival, which some people perceived to be elitist and out-of-touch with what a younger local audience wanted...
has taken place at the same time as the music festival providing alternative forms of entertainment.