Bath International Music Festival

Bath International Music Festival

The Bath International Music Festival has an illustrious artistic history and has long been a well-established event of national significance and international reputation, presenting a dynamic mix of world-class performers. The Festival takes place annually over 12 days in late May to early June, and showcases a rich range of high quality events featuring orchestral and classical virtuosos, jazz giants, folk, roots and world musicians, innovative collaborations and unique commissions.

You can get up-close to the Festival by becoming a Friend or taking part in a community education project.

The 2013 Bath International Music Festival takes place on 22 May - 2 June. To go on our mailing list contact Bath Festivals Box Office on (01225) 463362 or you can receive regular updates by email by signing up to our e-newsletter list here. For further information visit http://bathfestivals.org.uk/music/

History of the Festival

As far back as the sixteenth century, well before Bath became a fashionable destination, the city was attracting audiences for its music, with Queen Elizabeth I visiting to hear the choristers from Wells perform at Bath Abbey. With a rich musical background that was firmly cemented by Beau Nash's introduction of an Orchestra in Orange Grove in the early 1700's, it seemed only natural that Bath should organise its own music festival, yet it was not until 1948 that a proposal to do so was made.

After initial success both culturally and financially, the city took it upon itself to organise an annual event and since 1948 (with an exception of a few years) the Bath International Music Festival has been in existence. Over the last 64 years the Festival has been host to many internationally acclaimed artists and has showcased many spectacular events including the now famous collaboration between Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar.

New Appointment

The new Artistic Director for 2013 is the composer Alasdair Nicolson, whose work has been presented and broadcast internationally, with commissions and premieres in recent years with the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Nash Ensemble and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He is also the director of the St Magnus Festival in Orkney, and will continue to work on this alongside his role in Bath. His appointment follows in Bath International Music Festival's long tradition of leadership by practising artists, bringing both a particular creative sensibility to the role, and a direct practical understanding of the needs and interests of musicians

The 2014 Bath International Music Festival takes place on Friday 16 - Monday 26 May.