The 2025 Festival - For Severall Friends.

The Festival opens on Friday, 17 October in Brecon Cathedral with A Pageant of Psalms, a musical sequence based on the Roman Catholic Vespers, directed by Julian Podger with Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque and Brecon Baroque Festival Choir.

On Saturday evening in Theatr Brycheiniog, we have The Muses Restor’d with Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque, a programme inspired by the resurgence of the Arts in England post-1660. Violin-led chamber music from Jacobean to Early Georgian England includes works by Handel, Lawes, Blow, Locke, Purcell and Schop. Rachel is joined by lutenist Elizabeth Kenny (pictured), viola da gamba player Jonathan Rees and keyboardist James Johnstone.

On Sunday evening, the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble returns to The Plough Chapel to perform music from Renaissance and early baroque Europe.

On Monday evening, Rachel Podger directs Brecon Baroque Festival Orchestra and Brecon Baroque for the festival’s title concert, For Severall Friends. This grand finale features Elizabeth Nurse (mezzo-soprano), Melisande Corriveau (viola da gamba), Emilia Agajew (baroque triple harp) and James Brookmyre (recorder) with music by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Graun. The Festival Orchestra will be complemented by students from conservatoires across Europe. South Powys Youth Music will also take to the stage for its customary showcase spot.

The main concerts are sandwiched together by two slightly more relaxed, Lunchtime Chamber Concerts at The Plough Chapel. On Saturday, Huw Daniel, Kati Debretzeni, Sam Stadlen and James Johnstone perform trio sonatas including Biber's Harmonia Artificiosa. On Monday, tenor Nicholas Mulroy and lutenist Elizabeth Kenny perform songs from seventeenth century England and Italy. These are complemented by an Organ recital by Callum Anderson in Brecon Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, followed by Festival Evensong.

We have extended the programme of talks this year to include a pre-concert talk by Dr Keith Chapin (Cardiff University, School of Music) on Saturday evening in the Studio at Theatr Brycheiniog. In addition, there will be three talks at The Tithe Barn. On Saturday morning, writer and historian Gareth Russell discusses his book, Queen James - The Life and Loves of Britain’s first King. On Sunday morning, Daisy Prendergast-Wilson gives a talk about the life and work of her father, landscape artist Peter Prendergast; and Emma Hayes escorts a Brecon Town Walk. On Monday morning, Tom Bullough gives a talk about Wales, Climate and the Age of Saints, based on his book Sarn Helen.

Super Priority Booking for ADC Members opens on Tuesday 15 July.

Priority Booking for Patrons & Friends opens on Monday 28 July.

Public Booking opens on Monday 11 August.

We look forward to welcoming you in October.