PRESS RELEASE www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk/press February 9 2009 Exciting variety for 2009 programme An exciting variety of entertainment, ranging from a top German orchestra to The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Classic Brit award winners Blake, will give this summer’s King’s Lynn Festival especially broad appeal. With favourites from the classical music world, jazz, folk and top-name writers, artistic director Ambrose Miller said the line-up offered “something for everyone”. “By widening the appeal of the event we are not compromising our high standards but are continuing our tradition of excellence in all that we do,” he said. Classical music remains the cornerstone of the 59th Festival and includes a visit by Berlin Symphoniker, a leading German orchestra. Classic BRIT 2008 Album of the Year award winners Blake, four classically-trained singers who have successfully bridged the gap between pop and opera, will make their first appearance in the area. Their meteoric rise to stardom has included singing at the Queen’s 80th birthday party at Windsor Castle, and their version of Swing Low became the official anthem of the England team in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has proved a sensation, selling out where ever they appear. Their first gig in 1985 was intended as a one-off but they were soon touring the world and have been described as “a musical phenomenon”. The Mike Piggott Hot Club Trio with perform their tribute to the legendary jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, and folk music by Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. Former director general of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington, and writer and critic A N Wilson will speak at the literary dinner, and other writers spearing at the festival are the Rt Hon Shirley Williams and historian David Starkey, a Festival vice-president. The opening concert, in St Nicholas’ Chapel, will feature King’s Lynn Festival Chorus and the European Union Chamber Orchestra who will perform Faure’s Requiem and Haydn’s St Nicholas’ Mass. The orchestra will also appear with pianist Freddy Kempf, a Festival vice-president, who is set to win even more admirers with a performance of a Mozart piano concerto. King’s Lynn Festival Ltd 5 Thoresby College Queen Street King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1HX Registered office: 11 New Conduit Street King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1DG Registered in England No. 3468735 Registered Charity No. 1066819 PRESS RELEASE www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk/press continued ……./ Another favourite, clarinettist Emma Johnson, will return for a recital with Andrew West (piano) and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will feature in the early music day presenting A Grand Tour of Italy. The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields will make a return, and the final concert will be given by Berlin Symphoniker in an all-Beethoven programme including the piano concerto No 5 and the Pastoral Symphony. The highly popular series of five morning coffee concerts will feature rising stars of the classical music world. King’s Lynn Festival Ltd 5 Thoresby College Queen Street King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1HX Registered office: 11 New Conduit Street King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1DG Registered in England No. 3468735 Registered Charity No. 1066819 .