An introduction from Artistic Director, Graham Coatman...
Hexham Abbey Festival in 2009 marked an important turning point, and I’d like to thank you, our audience, for coming along. Despite these recessionary times our audiences held up numbers, but what was most exciting to see was the wider demographic and visitors from all parts of the country – lots of new faces in amongst our cherished regulars! North East Life Magazine hailed us “Hexham’s Fabulous Festival”, and we are now getting the message out that there is something for everyone, with a wide range of music and arts and consistently high calibre of performances second to none in the region.
Download the Festival Brochure here.
In 2010 you can look forward again to the first weekend being full of family fun activities, a second 'eating festival' in conjunction with Hexham Community Partnership, live music around the town, and another family concert – a very popular first, introduced in 2009, on the Sunday afternoon. All of which will be the 'Spirit of Hexham' festival within the main festival. The Young Artist Platform once again features the brilliant talent that comes out of Hexham itself in the weekday lunchtime recital series.
We look forward to welcoming you this year to stay in or close to Hexham, with its rural charm, and historic sites nearby, and take in many of the festival events – nearly thirty in the space of 10 days.
Programme includes...
Hunchback of Notre Dame (the classic silent film starring Lon Chaney) with live music
Impromptu - 1991 Chopin biopic with Hugh Grant, Judy Davis & Emma Thompson
Spirit of Hexham free street festival with music, procession, family activities, eating festival, etc
Handel's Messiah sung by Hexham Abbey Festival Chorus & Orchestra conducted by David Murray
Festival Eucharist featuring Louis Vierne's Messe pour deux orgues and guest preacher
"Songs, Spooks & Soldiers" family fun concert (suitable for 6-12 year olds) with activities
Festival Choral Evensong, with the choir of Hexham Abbey directed by Michael Haynes
Un Coeur En Hiver 1993 film with Emmanuelle Béart, Danile Auteuil & André Dussolier
Phil Wilcox (baritone) in songs by Schumann, Brahms, Butterworth & Britten
La Pelota Mágica Théatre sans Frontieres new show for children 6-12 with puppets
Five Beats in a Bar - singer Louise Gibbs & Trio Literati in songs & poetry of the Beat era with Jonny Gee (piano)
Opera della Luna in their rollicking production of G&S favourite HMS PInafore More details here
Simon Passmore (piano) plays Chopin, Grieg, Ravel & Grainger
Festival Choral Evensong sung by the full Abbey choir of boys and men
Evva Mizerska (cello) & Emma Abbate (piano) in Polish music recital
Festival Choral Evensong sung by the Abbey Girls Choir, with music by Hexham Abbey associated composers
Gilad Atzmon & Orient House Ensemble 10th anniversary tour by the iconoclastic inspiring poetic jazz saxophonist More details here
Jenny Brittlebank (oboe) plays Schumann, Tomais, Poulenc & Barber
Steven Osborne world class pianist in Beethoven, Schubert, Debussy & Rachmaninov More details here
Michael Haynes & Alex Woodrow play the Abbey's Phelps & Lammermuir organs
Gallicantus "The Word Unspoken" beautiful Tudor polyphony by candlelight
Scott Stroman & band & North East Gospel Choir An Everlasting Song - songs of faith, love & life
Book online here