This landmark year boasts a number of firsts:
* Dame Janet Smith takes over the Festival chairmanship from Roy Hattersley. Dame Janet is a Lady Justice sitting in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. She attended the first Festival 30 years ago and has been a supporter ever since.
* The launch of the Festival for a Fiver initiative – under-30s qualify for £5 tickets to any event in a bid to engage young people in the arts.
* A third Festival opera is added to the programme, marking the 30th anniversary. Unlike many counterparts, Buxton Festival produces its own opera as well as inviting touring companies to perform.
* An exhibition showcasing winning works from the Festival's inaugural poetry competition, run in partnership with the University of Derby, Buxton.
* A new World Music Series: seven late night shows in a laid back setting, featuring expert musicians from across the globe. Including Latino beats from Cuba, sounds of the sitar from India and Chinese folk music.
The Festival has a long history of producing rare opera in-house gaining a national reputation for excellence.
Together with its first-class morning literary series the event draws big names and a faithful audience.
The Festival opera line-up includes Samson by Handel – a full length and dramatic version of the great oratorio, set in the modern-day Gaza Strip/ The Poacher by Lortzing. A comic opera about a lovelorn Poacher, cross-dressing noblemen and a game of billiards/ An English Triple Bill – Three short chamber operas to mark three decades of excellence at Buxton featuring Savitri and the The Wandering Scholar by Gustav Holst and Riders to the Sea by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The all-star morning literary series includes:
Menzies Campbell on his success in two notoriously tough careers – athletics and politics; Joanne Harris on her new novel, The Lollipop Shoes, the follow-up to Chocolat; Dr Tessa Livingstone, producer of the hit TV series Child of Our Time, on children's development in literacy and communication, and General Sir Mike Jackson, on his previous role as head of the Army
* Booking can be made by contacting the Box Office on 0845-1272190, or to request a brochure phone 01298-70395.
website: www.buxtonfestival.co.uk