Buxton International Festival announces plans for 2024

On the back of a brilliant 2023 season, the Buxton International Festival has announced its plans for 2024.

In 2023, the Festival ran 150 events over 18 days. Alongside music events and operas, more than 2,000 people attended the Festival’s top book events which included Jeremy Bowen, Alastair Campbell and Dame Kate Bingham.

Plans for 2024 are already coming together. The Festival has announced five eagerly awaited operas and, in a major coup for Buxton, a performance from the Cuban-British director, choreographer and ballet dancer, Carlos Acosta.

Carlos Acosta

Cuban-British director, choreographer and ballet dancer, Carlos Acosta, will make his debut at Buxton International Festival with an intensely personal evening of dance titled On Before.

The Cuban-British ballet dancer and director is considered to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time and is known for his athleticism, artistry, and versatility. Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1973, he began dancing at the age of 10.  Over the course of his career, Acosta has danced a wide range of roles, from classical ballets such as Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet to contemporary works such as Carlos Acosta’s Carmen and Tocororo. He has also choreographed several ballets himself.

On Before pays tribute to Acosta’s late mother. It will feature choreography by world-renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett. Acosta will perform as both a soloist and alongside Laura Rodríguez, a founding member of his Cuban dance company, Acosta Danza.

Operas for 2024

Giuseppe Verdi’s Ernani

Giuseppi Verdi’s Ernani is an operatic dramma lirico in four acts. It tells the tragic love story of Elvira, who is caught between three men: her lover, her guardian and the King of Spain. Adrian Kelly conducts this new BIF production in Buxton Opera House with The Orchestra of Opera North.

George Frideric Handel’s Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno

Following the success of Acis & Galatea at Buxton in 2021, the festival joins forces with The Early Opera Company for a new production of Handel’s Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disingannol conducted by Christian Curnyn in Buxton Opera House.

Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s La Tragedie de Carmen

In its second collaboration with Norwich Theatre, BIF presents Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s La Tragedie de Carmen in Buxton Opera House. Brook’s adaptation includes elements of the Georges Bizet opera as well as the original Prosper Mérimée novella on which Bizet’s opera was based.

Ethel Smyth, The Boatswain’s Mate

This brand-new BIF production is written by British composer and suffragette Ethyl Smyth. It centres around a humorous battle of the sexes on the seafront in Margate. It’s full of twists and turns complete with all the quintessential sounds and sights of British summertime. Performed at the Pavilion Arts Centre.

Joseph Haydn’s La Canterina

The last of the BIF’s new productions for 2024 is Haydn’s two-act operetta, La Canterina. This comedic opera has all the ingredients for a riotous show with its stock-in-trade buffo figures: the aspiring, money-grabbing diva; her mother adept at procuring suitors; an oily, lascivious singing teacher and a wealthy young lover. Performed at the Pavilion Arts Centre.

Priority booking

Priority Booking for Carlos Acosta and Jazz Weekenders opens on 27 November 2023.

The full programme and festival brochure will be issued on Monday 26 February. Priority Booking opens on 5 March and Public Booking on 2 April 2024.

Book your luxury Festival cottage

If you’re keen to attend the 2024 Buxton International Festival you’ll need somewhere close to stay.

Wheeldon Trees is set in 12 acres of Peak District National Park and is located in one of Derbyshire’s most stunning valleys, nestled under High Wheeldon with views stretching to Chrome Hill and Dragon’s Back. The local hills were the location for the final scenes of the popular BBC series Peaky Blinders.

We’re just a 10-minute drive from Buxton town centre but a million miles away in terms of peace and tranquillity.

There are 10 sumptuous cottages to choose from. This includes three dog-friendly properties. In addition, there’s a fully accessible cottage and the luxurious Farmhouse with a wood-burning hot tub.

You’re not just getting a beautiful cottage at Wheeldon Trees. The retreat has a posh honesty shop featuring award-winning products from small businesses. In addition, the freezer is packed full of artisan ice cream and luxury-ready meals.

If you would like to explore the local area, why not borrow the retreat’s brand-new electric bikes? There are two local pubs to explore – both serve food. What’s more, we have recently added two new hybrid bikes.

There’s an outdoor children’s play area and a games room which was fully refurbished last year. Feel free to borrow DVDs and books or play air hockey or pool on the games table.

Every guest receives a Wheeldon Trees canvas tote bag containing milk, eggs, butter, High Wheeldon Rising filter coffee, tea bags, Wheeldon cookies and chocolate.

You can view our availability and pick your perfect cottage by following this link – view our availability.