Highlights this summer include a focus on music and musicians from the Czech Republic including performances by the Wihan Quartet and Trio Bohémo.
There will be Lake District Music’s 2026 Emerging Artists, Nadejda and Resol String Quartets performing and taking part in masterclasses. And there will be performances by pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, and singer Ruby Hughes among many others. Also on the prgramme are family events with Opera North, Concerteenies and Musical Curiosities.
Rachel Podger’s Brecon Baroque will open the Festival on July 31 at The Coro in Ulverston, while the grand finale on August 9 in Kendal Leisure Centre will include Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana performed by a stellar cast and the Northern Chamber Orchestra. in our Festival Finale (August 9, Kendal Leisure Centre).
Ambleside Parish Church and Primary School are among leading venues, along with Kendal Town Hall, and the lovely Brantwood at Coniston. Lake District Music has a strong tradition of nurturing artists at the beginning of their careers, and there are also plenty of opportunities during the Summer Festival for audiences to take part in music making activities, as Lake District Music expands its family and participatory events.
Interactive performances for young ones include the Mini Magic Flute with Opera North (July 31, Barrow Library), The Duck with No Luck, a musical story with Concerteenies ( Aug 9, Abbot Hall, Kendal), and Musical Curiosities present Cloudland, based on John Burningham’s much-loved children’s book ( Aug 2, Windermere Jetty Museum).
For aspiring and amateur brass musicians there is a chance to join members of Septura Brass Ensemble in a Brass Blast workshop, ahead of their evening performance at Cartmel Priory ( Aug 6). String musicians have the chance to play alongside Trio Bohémo in a workshop focussed on Martinu’s Concertino for piano and strings (Aug 4, Kendal).
Those with no musical experience are invited to come and make some noise at Crow Park in Keswick in a free Samba workshop with Drum Nation (Aug 5).
Lake District Music’s Artistic Director, Stephen Threlfall says: “Our 41st Festival continues our proud legacy of bringing a stunning array of the foremost musicians to the region, for local communities and visitors alike. These concerts and events - from the intimate to the expanse of the opera finale- offer a rich mix of diversity and excitement, designed to appeal to everyone and reflecting our ongoing commitment to presenting brilliant musical experiences in a variety of atmospheric venues throughout the Lake District.”
Tickets are on sale now via https://www.ldsm.org.uk/