Perth Festival of the Arts opens

May 21 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE bunting and the banners are up around town to proclaim the 39th Perth Festival of the Arts, which opened on Wednesday with a concert by legendary American singer-songwriter Don McLean and his band from Nashville.

This is the 39th Perth Festival and it has come a long way over the near-four decades.

The programme now covers a wide range of art forms from classical music and opera to jazz, rock, comedy and visual art. Tickets are still available for nearly all events including high profile concerts such as Rich Hall, The Halle Orchestra with Alison Balsom, The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, the Perth 800 Concert with Barbara Bonney and the RSNO and many more.

English Touring Opera’s production of Don Pasquale was staged in Perth Theatre last night, the first of an opera threehander – a first for Perth Festival. ETO’s other productions are The Marriage of Figaro tonight and tomorrow’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Also on tonight’s Festival programme is American stand-up Rich Hall at Perth Concert Hall.

Tiree band Skerryvore will be playing at the first Festival Fling in Perth Concert Hall tomorrow night supported by Gary Innes and the Highland Soap Dodgers.

Looking forward to next week, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will play at the Concert Hall next Tuesday. They are creating a lot of interest from all ages. This concert is a Scottish exclusive so people are coming from far and wide to see them. Tickets are still available.

Some of the other gems in this year’s programme include an acclaimed production of Animal Farm, Michael Marra and McFall’s Chamber, Gyles Brandreth, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra playing Rhapsody in Blue, Flanders and Swann, Kit and the Widow and the thoughts of Will Self.

Perth Festival of the Arts continues until Sunday, May 30. Full information at www.perthfestival.co.uk

Tickets can be purchased online and also at the box offices at Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre, telephone 01738 621031.

Reviews of the first Festival events over the first few days will appear in Tuesday’s PA Arts.