Stage is Set for 50th Belfast Festival at Queen's

31/07/2012 The 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s will boast a line-up of over 100 names that will perform as part of the 50th Festival celebrations due to take over the city from 19th October – 4th November.

Leading Soprano, Lesley Garrett, Festival favourite Van Morrison, comedian Jon Richardson, Grammy Award winning  Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Davies of The Kinks and the world renowned Buena Vista Social Club are just  some of the names that will feature during the 16 days of celebrations.

To mark the 50th Festival, this year’s programme will welcome back Festival founder Michael Emerson whose original vision to celebrate the creative spirit of Belfast has shaped the cultural landscape of Northern Ireland over the last five decades. Michael will return to Belfast from his home in Mexico to witness how his vision - which began as a small campus based event – has evolved to become an internationally acclaimed cultural showcase bringing together diverse art forms and engaging audiences in new artistic experiences. 

The Festival will open with a fanfare of 50 trumpets as they play a new work by local composer Michael Alcorn.  This overture sets the scene for a strong music programme which will feature names such as Grammy Award winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo who will be bringing their rich harmonies to Belfast audiences whilst critically acclaimed soprano Lesley Garrett will perform alongside world renowned clarinettist Emma Johnson in the magical surroundings of the Clonard Monastery.  The Monastery will also play host to a rare performance by Polyphony who were recently described as “possibly the best small choir in the world” by USA magazine Encore. 

To celebrate the 50th Festival a number of favourites will be returning including a reunion of “The Folk Club” which festival veteran Van Morrison and “Turn down the Lamp” returns with narration and traditional music featuring Dan Gordon, and many more.
2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s will be offering a wide selection of shows for children and young people with its largest line up of family orientated shows for many years  Plus, comedy on the whole is back by popular demand for 2012 featuring names such as rising star  Jon Richardson and Scott Capurro.  A dynamic array of theatre, talks and visual arts completes the picture for what is set to be a veritable feast for audiences of all ages.

The 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s will run from 19th October – 4th November 2012. For more information visit www.belfastfestival.com

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