Page 517 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

The Aldeburgh Festival's opening weekend included
highlights such as British soprano, Gweneth Ann Rand,
singing three Messiaen song-cycles over three concerts in

the Britten Studio accompanied by pianist, Simon Lepper

Founded by Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Eric Crozier in 1948, the Aldeburgh
Festival (now celebrating its 75th edition) got off to a spirited and inspiring start with a
new production of Judith Weir’s chamber opera Blond Eckbert in Snape Maltings Concert
Hall conducted by Gerry Cornelius.

Based on a supernatural short story by the German-born writer, Ludwig Tieck, one of the
founding fathers of the Romantic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries,
the opera was directed by Robin Norton-Hale and produced by English Touring Opera in
association with Britten Pears Arts with the composer - now in her 70th year and one of
this year’s artists-in-residence - responsible for the libretto.

A haunting tale of isolation and enigma, the scenario surrounds Eckbert (sung by
baritone Simon Wallfisch) and his wife Berthe (mezzo-soprano Flora McIntosh) living a
life of quiet solitude in their cosy forest home in the Harz Mountains until Walther, an old
friend of Eckbert, sung by tenor William Morgan, arrives at their doorstep on a rough and
tough stormy night thereby setting in motion a series of revelations, mysteries and
intrigue.

Judith Weir: Blond Eckbert - English Touring Opera - Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival (Photo copyright Richard Hubert Smith)