36^th PERTH FESTIVAL

16th -27th May 2007

Perth Festival has now launched the 2007 programme. It offers a stunning array of talent performing classical music, ballet, opera, comedy, poetry, folk music, and rock music, as well as art exhibitions, events for children and daily musical performances by local schools.

The highlight of the Festival will undoubtedly be The Bell Lawrie Festival Concert with Bryn Terfel and The Scottish Chamber Orchestra. This concert is attracting attention from all over the world. Whether it's singing opera, art song, folk song, oratorio or popular song, live or recorded, Bryn Terfel is a towering presence in the international music world. The combination of a great voice, immaculate diction, commanding stage presence and flair for acting has made Bryn Terfel one of the hottest properties in opera throughout the world.

The Festival was founded in 1972 by three members of Perth Junior Chamber of Commerce in response to a comment by art critic Conrad Wilson, who had remarked that “Perth was the perfect festival city without a festival”. Since then the event has grown in stature and broadened its base with the intention of offering “something from everyone”.

Opera has been one of the central features of the Festival since its inception with early performances by Scottish Opera and later a very successful collaboration with conductor John Currie. Since 2001 the Festival has worked closely with English Touring Opera which has brought two operas each year to Perth Theatre. These are always sung in English. Perth is the only venue north of the Border in the company’s annual spring tour, and so the only opportunity to hear this talented company in Scotland. This year they will perform two nights of “Seraglio” by Mozart and one night of “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky.

Other big names in the world of classical music will include Paul Lewis, The Sixteen, The Czech Symphony Orchestra and the Kopelman Quartet.

Comedy plays a big part this year with performances by Julian Clary, Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove, and Sandi Toksvig and Bonnie Langford.

Having recently published his memoirs and appeared in the BBC’s Who do You Think You Are? Julian Clary comes to town to explain himself. In this intimate and self-revelatory show, he leaves behind the make up and the sequins to reveal all. How did a policeman’s son make the break from suburbia to trail blazing gay icon and from shy Catholic schoolboy to finalist on Strictly Come Dancing? With all the wit and charm that have been hallmarks of his twenty-year career, this evening with Mr. Clary promises to be a surprising and hilarious event.

Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove, the stars of Off the Bawl and Offside, will salute Scotland's national game. In an unmissable evening of hilarious comedy, football's Odd Couple let rip with up-to-the minute topical material, tall tales from on and off the park and an exclusive chat with a special guest. Tam and Stuart cover all elements of the Beautiful Game - not forgetting the ugly bits.