New festival for Ripley Castle
A NEW Winter Festival will be staged at Ripley Castle in December. The courtyard will be turned into a giant undercover auditorium to seat 1,600 people and there will be five shows running from December 1 to December 4, covering a range of music from classical, musicals, opera and the proms.
There will also be options for corporate hospitality and VIP dining in the castle.
The organisers are Shan Robinson and Emma Ramply, who have both worked on international events, including Hampton Court Palace Music Festival and the Cirque du Soleil. They have formed White Rose Festival Ltd, based in Harrogate, and intend to make the Ripley Castle Winter Festival an annual event.
Sponsors to date include Welcome to Yorkshire, and Jaguar.
Emma and Shan believe the Festival is the only event of its kind. Emma said: "It combines a programme of internationally renowned shows, Yorkshire heritage, a range of hospitality in the castle and a magical festive setting created within a temporary theatre auditorium in the impressive courtyard at Ripley Castle."
Sir Thomas Ingilby said: "Ripley Castle is delighted to launch the Christmas season with this magnificent four-day event. We have been working with Emma and Shan now for over a year, during which they have helped greatly in widening our event programme, bringing artistes like Jools Holland and Katherine Jenkins to Ripley Castle. The White Rose Winter Festival is a unique event concept which makes full use the castle's hospitality space and our sizeable courtyard in which we are proud to be housing an impressive programme of classical, opera and West End productions.
Gary Verity, CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire said: "Thousands of people will be attracted to such magical performances, both from within Yorkshire and outside the region and the resulting boost in revenue for local businesses will be significant."
The courtyard will be covered entirely by large clear span marquee structure and the auditorium will have seating for 1,600 people each show, 8,000 over the five shows, with professional stage, sound and lighting.
There will also be a large winter bar in the foyer adjoining the castle gatehouse and a small selection of specialist food and drink concessions - and organisers promise all areas will be well heated!
Raymond Gubbay, one of the UK's leading promoter of classical musical entertainment will supply the shows for the festival. The festival opens on Wednesday, December 1 with Four Seasons by Candlelight, which will be performed in full 18th century costume in an candle-lit style setting.
Director and lead violinist is David Juritz' whose performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons was praised by the Times critic as one of the finest interpretations on modern instruments.
A Night at the Opera is the theme for Thursday's show on December 2. This will be a selection of arias and music from the most famous operas including La Traviata, I Pagliacci, Carmen, The Barber of Seville, Faust, Aida and La Boheme, performed by three distinguished operatic soloists, a ch oir and the Manchester Concert Orchestra. Peter Auty is the lead tenor
Friday, December 3 is The Sound of Musicals with stars from London's West End performing hits from My Fair Lady, Cabaret, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, West Side Story, Mamma Mia and many more, accompanied by the Manchester Concert Orchestra and Sally Ann Triplett, soprano soloist.
The Festival rounds off on Saturday, December 4 with the Ripley Castle Winter Proms including all the favourites such as Rule, Britannia!, Nessun dorma and Land of Hope and Glory. The conductor is John Pryce-Jones.
l Tickets range from 24 - 37 and the box office is on 01423 563563
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Weather for Harrogate
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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