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Buxton International Festival

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🎶 Opera 🎻 Music 📚 Books 🎷 Jazz
📍Buxton, Peak District
🗓️ 9-26 July 2026
⭐️ Join as a BIF Friend from £36 per year
https://linktr.ee/buxtonfestival

Buxton is a unique festival producing its own fully-staged professional operas, as well as showing touring operas, classical music and literary talks. Set within the historic spa town of Buxton, surrounded by the beautiful Peak District, the Festival is renowned for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere and attracts both dedicated opera lovers and those new to the genre. Founded in 1979, Buxton International Festival has been running 41 years. It still remains a charity and is funded through ticket sales and the wonderful support of our 2200 BIF Friends. In 2022 Buxton Festival will run from 7-24 July.

29/10/2026

Le dernier sorcier 💫

A Buxton International Festival production, featuring musicians from the Buxton International Festival Orchestra.

"Pleasant light entertainment for a summer evening" - Number 9 Blog

Creative team:

Erika Gundesen - Conductor
Lysanne van Overbeek - Director
Alisa Kalyanova - Designer
Alex Musgrave - Lighting Designer

Cast:

Phil Wilcox - Krakamiche
Eleri Gwilym - Stella
David Karapetian - Perlimpinpin
Rebecca Anderson - Prince Lelio
Sophie Clarke - Queen of the elves
Jessica Lawley - Verveine

27/10/2026

🎭 Introducing our 2027 opera programme!

We're delighted to announce seven operas for Buxton International Festival 2027, bringing together a world première, much-loved masterpieces and exciting collaborations.

- Orlando - An Escapade by Thea Musgrave: A world première exploring love, identity and transformation across the centuries.
- The Tales of Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach: A fantastical journey through love, heartbreak and obsession.
- Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss: A delightful collision of high drama, comedy and theatrical chaos.
- La gazzetta by Gioachino Rossini: A lively comedy of mistaken identities, romance and matchmaking.
- Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti: Opera della Luna brings this witty tale of deception, disguise and unexpected romance to life.
- Salome: Dance Toward Ruin by Richard Strauss: A bold and provocative reimagining of this dramatic masterpiece, presented by OperaUpClose.
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A thrilling tale of love, loyalty and daring escape, performed in concert.

Priority booking for BIF Friends will open on a staggered basis from Monday 7 December for two of our upcoming operas: The Tales of Hoffmann and Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as tickets for our exciting Jazz Weekender. On this date, we will also be sharing a list of musicians and the dates they are set to perform as part of our classical music series.
Public booking will open on Tuesday 15 December for our early sale.

Join us in Buxton from 7 - 25 July 2027 for another wonderful summer of opera ✨

23/10/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our Book Forum yesterday!
We had a wonderful time chatting all things books with our new Book Director, Dr. Kathleen Waller 📚✨

We really appreciate your support, enthusiasm and ideas, which will help us shape an exciting Book Festival in 2027!

22/10/2026

La liberazione di Ruggiero ✨

A Vache Baroque production in association with Buxton International Festival.

“This Liberazione casts a potent musical spell”.
"The music bursts with colour and idiomatic energy".
- The Guardian

"A warmly engaging experience for the ear".
- The Arts Desk

Creative team:

Jonathan Darbourne - Music Director
Eloise Lally - Director
Zahra Mansouri - Set and Costume Designer
Alex Musgrave - Lighting Designer
Katie Kelly - Movement Director

Cast:

Camilla Seale - Alcina
Jon Stainsby - Ruggiero
Phoebe Rayner - Melissa
Filippo Turkheimer - Nettuno
Betty Makharinsky - Sirena
Harriet Burns - Nunzia
Aina Miyagi Magnell - Una Damigella
Tom Kelly - Pastore/Astolfo

15/10/2026

Amadigi di Gaula 🦩

A Buxton International Festival production, featuring The English Concert.

'Well-drilled musical finesse'
★★★★★ - The Stage

'Absolutely gorgeous singing'
"Erin Helyard and the English Concert – a dream team of baroque dynamism and style”
★★★★ - The Guardian

Creative team:

Erin Helyard - Conductor
Olivia Fuchs - Director
Alfie Chesney - Assistant Director
Eleanor Bull - Designer
Ben Pickersgill - Lighting Designer

Cast:

Tim Morgan - Amadigi
Rowan Pierce - Oriana
Hilary Cronin - Melissa
James Hall - Dardano

The production of Amadigi di Gaula was made possible by the generous support of George and Daphne Burnett.

08/10/2026

The Merry Widow 💃🏻

An Opera Holland Park, Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte Opera co-production, featuring the Buxton International Festival Orchestra.

"slick and entertaining" ★★★★★ - The Stage
"a pure comedy re-imagining of Léhar” ★★★★ - The Arts Desk

Creative team:

Iwan Davies - Conductor
John Savournin - Director
Bence Kalo - Revival Director
takis - Set & Costume Designer
Ben Pickersgill - Lighting Designer
Merry Holden - Revival Choreographer
Rebecca Warren - Repetiteur

Cast:
Paula Sides - Hanna Glawari
Dominic Sedgwick - Danilo
Richard Burkhard - Don Zeta
Elizabeth Karani - Valentina
Luke Sinclair - Camille
Matthew Kellett - Nicky Negus
Phil Wilcox - Mr Kromow
John Ieuan Jones - Mr Bogdanovitch
Eleri Gwilym - Sylvia
Harry Thatcher - Sam Briochi
Christopher Nairne - Carmelo Cascada
Amy J Payne - Olga
George Robarts - Mr Pritschitisch
Catrine Kirkman - Paulina

01/10/2026

La Traviata 🌹

A Buxton International Festival and Norwich Theatre Production, featuring the Buxton International Festival Orchestra

“superb”. - ★★★★★ The Stage

“an atmospheric, intimate-feeling drama”. - The Spectator

Creative Team:
Adrian Kelly - Conductor
James Hurley - Director
Corina Würsch - Assistant Director
Corina Würsch - Movement Director
Elliott Squire - Set Designer
Zahra Mansouri - Costume Designer
Ben Pickersgill - Lighting Designer
Erika Gundesen - Repetiteur

Cast:
Alexandra Nowakowski - Violetta Valéry
Alina Adamski - Violetta Valéry (22 July)
Tigran Melkonyan - Alfredo Germont
André Heyboer - Giorgio Germont
Frances Gregory - Flora Bervoix
Amy J Payne - Annina
Harry Thatcher - Gastone de Letorières
Christopher Nairne - Barone Douphol
George Robarts - Marchese d’Obigny
John Ieuan Jones - Dottore Grenvil
James Liu - Giuseppe

24/09/2026

Our 2026 Festival Highlights video is here!

Join us in looking back on some of the best moments of this year's festival ✨

📹 Pixel Alchemy

14/09/2026

We’re recruiting! ✨

Buxton International Festival is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead one of the UK’s most distinctive and ambitious arts festivals into its next chapter.

For almost five decades, the Festival has brought outstanding artists and audiences to the beautiful spa town of Buxton. With opera at its heart and an acclaimed programme spanning classical music, jazz and books, BIF is both international in outlook yet deeply rooted in its place, renowned for artistic quality, adventurous programming and a warm, unpretentious welcome.
An ambitious 2027 programme is already in place, providing a strong platform from which BIF can build its next chapter.

We’re looking for a collaborative and entrepreneurial leader, with a strong track record of senior leadership across the performing arts, cultural, charitable and live events landscape.

Think you could be a good fit? Head to the link in our bio to find out more and apply!

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 9 October.

30/07/2026

That’s a wrap on Buxton International Festival 2026! ✨🥂

We waltzed with Hannah Glawari and weeped with Violetta, heard inspiring interviews from some of the day’s most exciting writers, and basked in glorious music, from jazz to baroque.

Thank you to everyone who came along and made this year’s festival so special. Your energy, enthusiasm, and support are so important to us, and we can’t wait to welcome you back next time. Plus, a huge thank you to all our cast, creatives, crew, performers, staff, and volunteers for making this a year to remember.

With plans for 2027 already in the works, we can’t wait to see you all again next year!

Address

3 The Square
Buxton
SK176AZ

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+44129870395

Website

http://linktr.ee/buxtoninternationalfestival

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