Picture gallery: Hexham Abbey Festival 2009

Posted by The Journal on Sep 28, 09 01:55 PM in Vids & pics

Hexham Abbey Festival 2009 Traditional music was on offer at the 57th Hexham Abbey Festival this weekend.

One of the country's oldest festivals, the packed programme included live performances of works by Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak.

Choral music came from the Newcastle Sinfonietta, while the combined choirs of Hexham Abbey and Newcastle Cathedral, and local folk duo Landermason, also performed.

Juggling, live music, and children's entertainment also whipped up a festival spirit from 10am to 4pm on Saturday as the festival took to the streets.

Pictured above are the Tenth Avenue Band performing outisde the Abbey and juggler Tony Armitage showing off his skills.

"Running Hexham Abbey Festival gets more like running a circus every day," said artistic director Graham Coatman.

But while ensuring one of the country's oldest festivals remains all-embracing, he has also listened to those who requested more orchestral music in this year's programme.

The Skipton Camerata, an orchestra formed in 2004 from young graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music, will make its festival debut tonight in Hexham Abbey.

Works by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky will be on the programme.

The music was a fantastic accompaniment to the fine dining on offer at the first-ever Hexham Eating Festival, which ran alongside performances at the Abbey.

Visitors flocked to the Abbey Cloister for cookery demonstrations from top Cumbrian chef John Crouch and Hexham cookery teacher Choi Chan.

Stalls were packed with the finest local delicacies including Kielder Organic Meats, beers from Wylam Brewery and Northumberland cheeses from Slack House Farm.

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