The Cathedral will once again be central to this year’s Festival of Chichester, offering something for everyone in a series of events featuring music, poetry, conversation and tours, and including appearances by some very special local celebrities.
The Cathedral will host the Headline Concert ‘Eight Seasons and a Blackbird’ on June 27, with internationally renowned concerto violinist Harriet MacKenzie leading her Celoniatus Ensemble in a heart-warming nature-themed programme. This includes Vivaldi’s Baroque masterpiece The Four Seasons, alongside Argentinian tango in Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, and finally an evocative orchestral work by Canadian composer Emily Doolittle, depicting a blackbird singing in the rain.
Distinguished Patron, Dame Patricia Routledge, continues to champion the Festival, and hosts an Evening of Poetry and Music on Tuesday 9 July. Bestselling author Victoria Hislop talks about her new novel ‘Those Who Are Loved’, set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, to Cicestrian and hugely successful writer Kate Mosse. Other events include free lunchtime and evening concerts including two by the children of the Prebendal School, and an intriguing guided tour exploring ‘A Woman’s Place: is in the Cathedral!’
The month-long Festival of Chichester runs from 15 June to 14 July, offering an exciting and varied line up of over 200 events across the district. Classical music is combined with the best in jazz, blues, folk, rock, pop and world music, while theatre, book events, talks and poetry, exhibitions, walks, tours, cinema, open days and galas also feature local and international performers of the highest calibre.
The Dean of Chichester, The Very Reverend Stephen Waine, comments, “The Cathedral was one of the original founding members of the Festival which has become such an important event in the local calendar. Our great musical and artistic heritage continues with this programme of quality performances and events, and we are delighted to once again be at the heart of the Festival.”
Full details of the events at the Cathedral, and how to buy tickets, can be found using the links below:
- A Woman’s Place: is in the Cathedral – Tour 26 June & 10 July
- Victoria Hislop in Conversation with Kate Mosse – 19 June
- Prebendal School Year 8 Scholars Recital – Free Lunchtime Concert 20 June
- Behind the Scenes at Chichester Cathedral – Tour 22 June
- Chichester Singers 'From Darkness to Light' – Evening Concert 22 June
- Harriet McKenzie: Eight Seasons and a Blackbird – Evening Concert 27 June
- Family Concert with the Piatti String Quartet – Afternoon Concert 29 June
- Victor Ryabchikov – Free Lunchtime Concert 4 July
- Southdowns Concert Band and Walton Voices: A Journey Through Time and Space – Evening Concert 6 July
- Alessandra Pompili & Einar Johannesson – Free Lunchtime Concert 9 July
- An Evening of Poetry and Music With Dame Patricia Routledge – 9 July
- Prebendal School Summer Concert – Free Evening Concert 11 July
For a full listing and ticket information for all events taking place in Chichester as part of the Festival, please visit the Festival of Chichester website: festivalofchichester.co.uk
