Ryedale District Council supports the Ryedale Festival.

Friday July 17th to Sunday August 2nd

"The best festival yet, with great varied content!"  This was the comment heard over and over again at the Final Gala Concert.   Seat sales for the Ryedale Festival soared to over a total of 7,000 over its 16-day run.

The 2009 Ryedale Festival packed solid with events, with a running theme of Austro-Hungarian music, ended with a flourish with a final concert given at Hovingham Hall.  This final event has proved so popular over the years that it is now relayed live onto a giant screen in the nearby gardens of the Worsley Arms Hotel. The Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band opened the evening in the gardens and participants were treated to a hog roast. Justin Doyle, the festival Artistic Director, conducted  a programme in the Hall that included Mozart, Brahms, and Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel.

Ken Overton, festival chairman, said: “We have attracted visitors from home and abroad giving a vital bonus to restaurants, pubs and places to stay.

“We knew we had our work cut out to attract so many people in the teeth of a recession but with hard work we’ve achieved it.”

High points among 43 festival events included the Festival Opera, Háry Janos which received excellent reviews and the Community Opera 'Everyman', which celebrated its tenth birthday this year.

The thread of community involvement continued with 'Zimbe!' - a weekend of African inspired music  with workshops over two days culminating in a concert at the Joan of Arc Hall, a unique theatre tucked away in the Yorkshire Moors.

Ken Overton said: “With the Community Opera and 'Zimbe!', around 250 people of all ages from Ryedale have directly taken part in events.”

Over the last decade the Community Opera has attracted a total audience of 5,000 and involved 700 local people.

Another out of this world success this year was the performance by a 100 strong orchestra in Norton of The Planets by Holst.  “We were looking in back rooms to find more seats – it was jam packed,” said Ken.  Also, well received were the impressive Northern Sinfonia from the Sage in Gateshead who performed in several concerts and the Gould Piano Trio who gave a memorable performance in St. Mary's Priory Church in Old Malton.

The now well established triple concert at Castle Howard wove its magic again when the audience enjoyed performances in three separate parts of the house - a truly beautiful setting which fitted the music perfectly.

In true stalwart British spirit five coachloads of concert-goers braved the elements of lashing rain on the 'Ryecrawl' where they were treated to three separate events travelling to three venues across 'middle' Ryedale.  The outdoor concerts had to be cancelled and venues and programmes rearranged but that did not deter the enjoyment of some beautiful music.

A Festival to remember  - 43 events in 23 locations

Photograph - Martin Roscoe, pianist performing in Castle Howard Long Gallery