Summary

For the first time in more than 50 years the Aldeburgh Festival opens away from the Suffolk coast, celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Bury St Edmunds Abbey.

Following Britten’s fanfare, written especially for this magnificent cathedral, we begin to weave this year’s musical tapestry with many of the threads to be picked up by Aldeburgh Festival across the 17 days. The music of Aldeburgh Festival’s Artists in Residence Cassandra Miller and Mark-Anthony Turnage is performed alongside two of Britten’s most sensuous pieces, matched by Elgar’s gorgeous piece for strings. The programme is completed by a further string orchestra work by Tom Coult – whose opera will be premiered at the festival the following night – and the posthumous world premiere of one of John Tavener’s final works.