The prestigious Buxton International Festival will feature a musical for the first time alongside its traditional opera and classical music concert programming.
Presented by the Festival and Buxton Opera House, the new production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s evocative A Little Night Music will star award-winning actress Janie Dee (Follies, Carousel) as Desiree, a role the West End star previously played in concert in 2015 at the Palace Theatre and last year in a special outdoor concert at Opera Holland Park.
Directed by Paul Kerryson, the creative team also includes conductor Wyn Davies, designers Phil Daniels and Charles Cusick Smith and lighting designer Ben Pickersgill.
Dee will be joined by David Leonard, Daniella Sicari and Tim Walton for the performances at the Buxton Opera House from 8-24 July 2021.
Unveiling details of this year’s festival, CEO Michael Williams said: “We are delighted to announce our full programme for 2021, an eagerly-awaited mix of opera, music and books, which brings much-needed live music, literature and debate back to our spa town.
“We’re stepping out of lockdown with a bold, forward-looking festival that includes co-commissions, ambitious new productions including a musical for the first time, headline musicians and a vibrant books programme that doesn’t shy away from controversy.
“For the first time in our 40-year history BIF will release a recording of one of the opera productions and a series of concerts and book talks will be available online. Months of careful planning will ensure an exceptional artistic experience in a safe environment for visitors and artists alike.”
With music and lyrics by Sondheim, a book by Wheeler and original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, A Little Night Music debuted on Broadway in 1973. Directed by Harold Prince, the production starred Glynis Johns, Len Cariou and Hermione Gingold.
The 1975 West End premiere production featured Jean Simmons and Joss Ackland with Gingold reprising her performance as Madame Armfeldt. Other notable productions include the 1995 National Theatre revival which featured an Olivier Award-winning performance from Judi Dench as Desiree and the 2008 Menier Chocolate Factory production which was directed by Trevor Nunn. The Menier production opened on Broadway in 2009 with the same creative team but with a new cast that included Catherine Zeta-Jones who made her Broadway debut and took home a Tony Award for her performance as Desiree alongside theatre Grand Dame, Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt.
Angela Thomas
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