This year marks the golden anniversary of the Rye Arts Festival, which was founded in 1971.
From September 10 – 26, the town will host dozens of ticketed events to mark this momentous and golden year, with the best of local, national, and international talent.
And in 2021, despite the pandemic and restrictions placed on international travel, the festival is delighted to be hosting some truly world-class talent, with performers flying in to play for the Rye audience.
In the world of classical music there will be a rare appearance in the UK of the violinist Boris Garlitsky who is coming from his German base to join his fellow Russian, the cellist Leonid Gorokhov, who lives in London, and Singapore-born but long-term Britain resident Caroline Palmer on piano.
This piano trio all have a big international reputation and are all noted soloists as well as chamber musicians. This will be a rare treat for Rye, with an evening concert on Sunday, September 19.
The following Friday, Rye will host another performer from abroad.
Ben Bedford jets into the UK for a handful of selected gigs. Ben is a singer-songwriter in the American tradition going back to Woodie Guthrie through Bod Dylan to the present day. From the heart of America, Ben sings and plays with passion, about his country and his people, at the Rye Community Centre on the evening of September 24.
Other international performers include Vera van Heeringen, Dutch-born but long-time UK resident, who will play country, Americana, and folk on Saturday, September 18, while the Portuguese pianist Artur Pizzaro will join Stephen Coombs to play an evening of piano duets on Sunday, September 26.
Tickets for these events, and all the 60 events covering classical and contemporary music, films, drama and much more, are available online at www.ryeartsfestival.org.uk or from the Box Office via telephone on 01797 462168, or weekdays from Grammar School Records, in Rye’s high street.
As the safety of audiences, volunteers and artists are essential the festival plans to limit capacity to 75% at all venues, and make sure that it adheres to the latest advice from The Government and SAGE.
