Classical Preview: Buxton festival presents an impressive line-up

Buxton nowadays totally dominates the classical music festival scene in the north of England, and in the space of three weeks is offering nine operas – four in new productions – together with 48 ballet, concerts and recitals. Donizetti’s Maria di Rohan, composed at the peak of his career but now seldom performed, is first on stage with Maria Plazas in the title role; Handel’s Saul presented as an opera set after the Second World War, and Ambroise Thomas’s witty Mignon follow. All three take place in the Opera House.

Greek, Mark-Anthony Turnage’s grim look at life in London’s East End, and two 18th century comedies – Cimerosa’s The Italian Girl in London, and Telemann’s Pimpinone – headline the second week. A star-studded array of artists has the famous soprano, Susannah Glanville, to start proceedings with a recital of works by Richard Strauss, Schoenberg, Rachmaninov (Jul 11).

Following on her heels is the brilliant Taiwanese pianist, Chiu-Yu Chen (Jul 13); a rare visit to these shores from the celebrated New Zealand String Quartet (Jul 16); the leading Czech group, the Skampa Quartet (Jul 20); Tasmin Little’s touring roadshow, The Naked Violin (Jul 22); the fabulous St Petersburg String Quartet (Jul 22), while the Northern Chamber Orchestra bring the cellist Raphael Wallfisch (Jul 26). Lovers of dance will head for Ballet Cymru’s Beauty and the Beast (Jul 15), and Opera North Projects look at operatic women in trousers in The Girl I Left Behind Me (Jul 12 & 24)

Buxton Festival July 9-27, 0845 1272190, www.buxtonfestival co.uk . For opera dates see today’s Classical Listings.