Ledlanet Nights in Kinrosshire, Scotland, was an arts festival that operated from 1962 for around ten years. This "inventive and not at all flippant little festival"[1] offered performances mounted on a shoestring budget, which were held in a hall at Ledlanet, then the home of the publisher John Calder.[2]
Historyedit
Ledlanet Nights, described at some length in Calder's autobiography, Pursuit, developed as a general festival from modest beginnings. Many art forms were offered, among which were opera, theatre, recitals and orchestral concerts. An early, if unexpected addition, were folk evenings. As well as art exhibitions, the mix included one- or two-person shows of different types ranging from those of Geraint Evans to Ian Wallace or Donald Swann.[3] Initially these were mostly produced especially for Ledlanet, but as the seasons grew in ambition, later shows were often 'bought in' from a tour.[citation needed]
In the immediate post-war period, professional opera could be found in Scotland mainly through the offerings of touring companies. Arts activity in country houses was not unknown but festivals generally were nowhere near as widespread as they have since become.[citation needed] In 1963 when opera was found in Scotland largely at the Edinburgh International Festival, and when Scottish Opera had only just been founded, any additional opera on a small scale was welcomed.[citation needed] Handel works, then much less well known, featured prominently at Ledlanet with productions including Agrippina[4] and Alcina. Jill Gomez and Josephine Barstow were among several singers appearing who made an impression there at a relatively early stage in their careers, in Il Re Pastore and Una cosa rara,[5] respectively.
Ledlanet Nights remained small scale; even at its peak in 1973 there were seats for only 155 people.[citation needed] Performers and audience members alike remember well the intimate atmosphere. With little support from public coffers, the Festival was heavily dependent on fundraising by regular patrons and supporters. By 1973 this was no longer sustainable. Calder attributes the sudden end of Ledlanet Nights to the financial consequences of his divorce from his second wife.[3]
Referencesedit
^Wilson, Conrad (13 July 2005). "Pilgrimage's Progress". The Herald.
^Ledlanet, a baronial country mansion, was situated near Milnathort.
^ abCalder, John (2001). Pursuit: the Uncensored Memoirs of John Calder. London: Calder Publishers Ltd. p. 619. ISBN0-7145-4313-6.[page needed]
^Oliver, Cordelia (Oct 1, 1965). "Agrippina at Ledlanet". The Guardian.
^OperaScotland. "Ledlanet Nights". Retrieved 23 April 2011.
April 11, 2024
ledlanet, nights, kinrosshire, scotland, arts, festival, that, operated, from, 1962, around, years, this, inventive, flippant, little, festival, offered, performances, mounted, shoestring, budget, which, were, held, hall, ledlanet, then, home, publisher, john,. Ledlanet Nights in Kinrosshire Scotland was an arts festival that operated from 1962 for around ten years This inventive and not at all flippant little festival 1 offered performances mounted on a shoestring budget which were held in a hall at Ledlanet then the home of the publisher John Calder 2 History editLedlanet Nights described at some length in Calder s autobiography Pursuit developed as a general festival from modest beginnings Many art forms were offered among which were opera theatre recitals and orchestral concerts An early if unexpected addition were folk evenings As well as art exhibitions the mix included one or two person shows of different types ranging from those of Geraint Evans to Ian Wallace or Donald Swann 3 Initially these were mostly produced especially for Ledlanet but as the seasons grew in ambition later shows were often bought in from a tour citation needed In the immediate post war period professional opera could be found in Scotland mainly through the offerings of touring companies Arts activity in country houses was not unknown but festivals generally were nowhere near as widespread as they have since become citation needed In 1963 when opera was found in Scotland largely at the Edinburgh International Festival and when Scottish Opera had only just been founded any additional opera on a small scale was welcomed citation needed Handel works then much less well known featured prominently at Ledlanet with productions including Agrippina 4 and Alcina Jill Gomez and Josephine Barstow were among several singers appearing who made an impression there at a relatively early stage in their careers in Il Re Pastore and Una cosa rara 5 respectively Ledlanet Nights remained small scale even at its peak in 1973 there were seats for only 155 people citation needed Performers and audience members alike remember well the intimate atmosphere With little support from public coffers the Festival was heavily dependent on fundraising by regular patrons and supporters By 1973 this was no longer sustainable Calder attributes the sudden end of Ledlanet Nights to the financial consequences of his divorce from his second wife 3 References edit Wilson Conrad 13 July 2005 Pilgrimage s Progress The Herald Ledlanet a baronial country mansion was situated near Milnathort a b Calder John 2001 Pursuit the Uncensored Memoirs of John Calder London Calder Publishers Ltd p 619 ISBN 0 7145 4313 6 page needed Oliver Cordelia Oct 1 1965 Agrippina at Ledlanet The Guardian OperaScotland Ledlanet Nights Retrieved 23 April 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ledlanet Nights amp oldid 1166213897, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
