Countdown to this year’s annual Elgar Festival

Issue Date :  20 May 2024 Ref : EF2411   Countdown to this year’s annual Elgar Festival

Photo caption : At the heart of the Festival is the Gala Concert at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 1 June at 7.30pm

Organisers of the annual celebration of the life and music of Worcestershire’s most famous composer are counting down the days until the event.

The Elgar Festival’s 2024 event will take place between Monday 27 May and Sunday 2 June.

The Festival – which was launched in 2018 – was established by decree of Worcester City Council and is traditionally held on the weekend closest to Elgar’s birthday, 2 June 1857.

Themed ‘The Origins of Inspiration’, this year’s Festival will combine orchestral, chamber, vocal and choral concerts with exhibits and lectures to celebrate the life and music of Sir Edward Elgar at various venues across Worcestershire.  It will bring together an array of internationally renowned guest artists, placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director of The Elgar Festival said : “We are days away from this year’s Elgar Festival! We are delighted to present the best of British music, played in the heart of Elgar country, which will engage and embrace people of all ages and all musical tastes.  The 2024 Elgar Festival promises to be a once in a lifetime celebration providing a showcase for music of composers from all genres.  We look forward to welcoming you!”

Some of the highlights for 2024 include:

• At the heart of the Festival is the Gala Concert by the English Symphony Orchestra and the Elgar Festival Chorus at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 1 June at 7.30pm;
• The annual Elgar’s Strings by the English String Orchestra concert at Worcester Guildhall;
• Late night Club Elgar concerts featuring jazz, world music, blues and more with some of the UK’s most exhilarating musicians;
• Throughout the Festival The Guildhall in Worcester will have an exhibition on display of Elgar memorabilia on loan from prestigious private collections;
• The Elgar for Everyone Family Concert featuring more than 100 young musicians, hosted by Festival Patron Julian Lloyd Webber and inspirational violinist Esther Abrami.

Since it began in 2018 – lauded as ‘Critic’s Pick’ in both The Guardian and The Times – the Festival has doubled in size and scale and championed Sir Edward to as wide an audience as possible.

For a full list of events, costs and booking information, please visit www.elgarfestival.org.