The Perth Festival of the Arts is a highlight in Scotland’s cultural calendar. The festival which opens on 15th May, runs till 27th May and is an annual 11-day festival. The festival now covers all platforms, but originally it focused on opera and classical music only, when found in 1972.
There are many events in this year’s programme. The festival this year is being opened by a recital by Nicola Benedetti, with new classical works for violin and piano. Alexei Grynyuk is her duo partner. There’s also Nigel Kennedy, Marcus Brigstocke, The Moscow Philharmonic, The View and Justin Currie performing.
There are free exhibitions and concerts, plus a performance by HMSPinafor, where members of the audience can even dress up and be the chorus too. Other events and performances include the Embers, Rachel Sermanni and Adam Holmes, and The Treacherous Orchestra. There’s an action-packed show at The Cotton Club – Swing, a recreation by Lindy Hop Dance Company, celebrating New York’s nightclubs of the 1020s and 30s, of their dance, music and songs.
For the family, there are other exciting shows, like the visiting opera roadshow of Scottish Opera and children’s classic concerts. There are daily lunchtime concerts by Perthshire schools, a Perth Youth Orchestra performance and a recital of saxophonist Helena Kaye. The festival nurtures young musicians. Thee are loads of free events and lots of local exhibitions, including contemporary Scottish Arts packed in the ArTay marquee. For more information visit the site- perthfestival.co.uk.
