The south of the island will reverberate to the diverse sounds of baroque, classical, jazz, flamenco and concert hall music for the next two weeks.
The 45th Mananan Arts Festival begins this weekend, at the Erin Arts Centre, and features a diverse mix of international musicians and acts, taken from a variety of different genres and backgrounds.
Opening the festival is a returning act, and one that was a firm favourite of last year’s programme.
The piano duo Worbey and Farrell will appear on Sunday, June 16, from 8pm, performing a set of flamboyant and spectacular piano-based numbers, taking in everything from Strauss to Liberace.
Monday night sees the stunning quartet Red Priest play a set of baroque-inspired neo-classical music, all performed in a style you may not have heard before, with their trademark energy, virtuosity and madness.
A display of floral arranging by the international florist Nick Grounds takes place on the Tuesday night, followed by a performance by the classical duo of soprano singer Anna Prohaska and pianist Julius Drake on Wednesday, June 19.
This duo have graced many international stages, such as the Royal Opera House, in Covent Garden, and the Paris Opera.
The Katona Twins appear on Thursday, with a reputation as one of the world’s finest classical guitar duos.
Peter and Zoltá* Katona will play a wide repertoire, consisting of the music of Bach and Piazzolla’s tango music to their own arrangements of pop classics.
Their programme also includes music by Rodrigo, Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Tedesco.
The Zoe Rahman Jazz Quartet will be on stage on Friday evening, singing a set of original songs, alongside classics by Duke Ellington, Jessica Williams and Rabindranath Tagore.
The programme sees something very different on Saturday, June 22, with a production of the opera the Sleeping Queen, written by Gilbert and Sullivan, along with the playwright Michael Balfe.
Sunday sees a concert by the flamboyant and talented flamenco virtuoso Adam Westcott.
The dazzling guitarist, a protégé of flamenco master Manitas de Plata, will perform a show of the thunderous and furious sounds of flamenco, showcasing incredible techniques and his passion for the genre.
Classical musicians Tasmin Little and Martin Roscoe, followed by pianist Peter Donahoe will appear on Monday and Tuesday respectively, and the Brodsky Quartet will perform a classical concert on Thursday, June 27.
This will be followed by two concerts by the guitar and piano duo the Scott Brothers.
Friday afternoon, from 3pm, will see the duo perform a family-orientated concert, featuring renditions of film scores and popular songs from the movies, followed by an evening concert of classical music, arranged for guitar and piano.
The festival will come to a tumultuous close on the Saturday evening with a concert by another returning act, Kabantu.
The Manchester-based quintet will perform a concert of world music, taken from genres and styles from all over the globe, played in their usual frenetic and infectious style.
The long-running arts festival has been organised by John Bethell, from the arts centre, who said that it has become one of the major arts festivals in the UK.
’This year we celebrate our 45th annual Mananan Festival,’ said John.
’"Mananan" has become one of the major music and arts festivals in the British Isles and it continues to bring to the Isle of Man the finest artists and performers from around the world.
’It also encourages talented performers and artists who live and work on the island. Within the festival we will also have competitions for young singers and instrumentalists.
’We wish to thank the Isle of Man Arts Council and those companies, organisations and individuals who continue their financial support of the annual festivals.’
More details on the festival, including times and ticket prices for the individual nights, are available by phoning 832662 or online at erinartscentre.com
by Mike Wade
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