Bassenthwaite Festival

This summer half-term sees the return of Cumbrian chamber group Ensemble Buxtehude to Bassenthwaite, near Keswick, where they love to make music together for the delight of residents and visitors.

For this year's Bassenthwaite Festival, they will present three concerts of sparkling Baroque music in the idyllic settings of the two local churches.

The Festival begins on the Friday evening with solo and trio sonatas for strings and continuo by JS Bach, his teacher Buxtehude and good friend Telemann, all in the beautiful 10th century lakeside church dedicated to St Bega.

On Saturday lunchtime Festival Artistic Director David Gibbs will give an organ recital on the theme of the Ground Bass, concluding with Bach's mighty Passacaglia in C minor.

That same evening a full Ensemble concert for voices, strings and continuo will fill the lovely acoustic of St John's Church and feature two cantatas by Buxtehude and Reinhard Keiser's St Mark Passion (1705), on which Bach modelled his own Passion settings.

We look forward to welcoming you to our friendly Festival, and hope to meet you over delicious interval refreshments!

Friday 2 June, 7.30 pm St Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite

Sonatas and fantasias for violin and continuo by Bach, Buxtehude and Telemann

Saturday 3 June, 12.30 pm St Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite

The Ground Bass

Organ music by JS Bach and Purcell arias

Saturday 3 June, 7.30 pm St John's Church, Bassenthwaite

Buxtehude cantatas and St Mark Passion by Keiser (1674 - 1739)

for voices, strings and continuo

Refreshments and toilet facilities will be available at all concerts.

Tickets

Under-11: free entry to all concerts

Evenings £12 (under-18 £5) Lunchtime £5 (under-18 free)

Festival Pass for all concerts £23 (under-18 £7)

available on the door,

by emailing info@bassfest.org.uk or calling 07849 383727