The festival will take place over two weekends on Dartmoor and Exmoor
The Two Moors Festival is to take place with a live audience this autumn, which marks its 20th anniversary. It will be the first time many of the artists involved have returned to the stage since lockdown.
Classical music events will take place with limited, socially-distanced audiences across two weekends: 26-27 September on Dartmoor and 2-4 October on Exmoor, in church venues in Widecombe and Wiveliscombe. All concerts will be one hour in length with no interval.
The opening concert on 26 September at St Pancras’ Church in Widecombe-in-the-Moor will see The Albion Quartet play Brahms and Beethoven’s last quartets.
Elsewhere there are performances from the cellist and BBC Young Musician Winner, Laura Van Der Heijden; pianist, Elisabeth Brauss, jazz bassist and a BBC New Generation Artist, Misha Mullov-Abbado; and tenor, Nicky Spence, with the lieder pianist, Chris Glynn. There will also be talks given by music journalist Jessica Duchen, and musicologist Katy Hamilton.
Tamsin Waley-Cohen, Artistic Director of The Two Moors Festival said: ‘I am delighted to be unveiling our programme for the 2020 Festival, my first as Artistic Director. I was one of the Young Musician Competition winners in the very first Festival twenty years ago and have had the pleasure of returning often since then, seeing it grow and flourish. This year, we will of course have all relevant measures in place to make it safe and enjoyable for all, in line with government guidance. The Two Moors Festival was born out of the foot and mouth crisis and, on our 20th Anniversary, as we find ourselves weathering another crisis, we offer a festival of celebration, bringing the shared, joyful experience of live music back to the Moors, and lifting people’s spirits.’
Read: Tamsin Waley-Cohen appointed Artistic Director of Two Moors Festival
Read: North York Moors Festival goes ahead with social distancing
In line with government guidelines and to ensure that social distancing can be practiced, there will be safety measures in place including staggered arrivals, distanced seating, one-way systems where possible, plus enhanced cleaning before each event. There will be no toilet facilities or refreshments available and tickets must be bought in advance as no tickets sales are permitted on the door.
If a concert needs to be cancelled for any reason, for example if the government guidelines change, customers will be offered a full refund.
To ensure that the Festival is as accessible as possible, ticket prices for this year will be kept at a minimum. For those who are unable to attend, some concerts and talks will be available online after the Festival ends.
Priority ticket booking opens from 24 August and general public booking from 31 August. Friends, Associates and Benefactors of the Festival will have access to online talks in addition to the priority booking and newsletters.
The Two Moors Festival was set up in 2000 to give audiences in rural areas the opportunity to experience high-quality classical music, to nurture young artists and performers, and encourage local communities to join in.
For information on general ticket sales, priority booking, and event safety, please visit www.twomoorsfestival.co.uk
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