Perth Festival has announced its 40th programme, which will take place from the 18th to 29th May 2011. The Festival intends to celebrate its 40th birthday by staging some world-class events with an international flavour with artists coming from the USA, Denmark and Russia as well as the UK. The Festival covers many art forms from classical music and opera to comedy, rock, folk and the visual arts.

American Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell will play at two special concerts in Perth Concert Hall – The Final Concert on Sunday 29th May with The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Ian Brown. The programme will include Haydn Symphony No.13 in D major and Beethoven Symphony No.4. Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis will join forces in the radiant lyricism of Brahms’s Double Concerto.

Joshua will also give a recital with Jeremy Denk and Steven Isserlis on Saturday 28th May. The programme includes Schubert Arpeggione Sonata, Schubert Duo for Violin and Piano in A and Schubert Piano Trio in Eb. “The Festival has being trying to book Joshua Bell for many years and is now delighted that he will perform at our 40th birthday. He will follow in the footsteps of high profile classical artists who have performed in recent years including Bryn Terfel, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Lesley Garrett.” said Festival Representative Sandra Ralston.

The Bolshoi Orchestra, one of the oldest orchestras in Russia founded in 1776, will be conducted by Alexander Lazarev at the Opening Concert on Sunday 22nd May. They will play extracts from Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” and Prokofiev’s Suite from the ballet Cinderella.

Jools Holland & his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will play at Perth Concert Hall on Friday 20th May, his band features Gilson Lavis, guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall and a special guest Sandie Shaw. He has performed to a staggering 4 million people in recent years, with the show becoming a must-see event for fans around the country.

American songwriter, folk singer, humorist and actor Loudon Wainwright III, who won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album “High Wide & Handsome” in January 2010, plays on Tuesday 24th May supported by his daughter Lucy.

Opera has always been an essential element of the Festival programme and 2011 will be no exception. English Touring Opera will present three operas “La Clemenza di Tito” by Mozart on Friday 20th May and then a double bill of Puccini operas “Il Tabarro” and “Gianni Schicchi” on Saturday 21st May. ETO has been staging operas at the Festival since 2001 and has so far produced 21 different productions in Perth Theatre. The Tippett Quartet will also be in residence.

Romeo and Juliet by PETER SCHAUFUSS DANCE Thursday 19th May. Danish dance legend Peter Schaufuss is steeped in tradition. Trained in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the hallowed Bournonville tradition, Peter’s unique virtuoso gifts and magnetic stage presence turned him into a global ballet superstar. Today Schaufuss, director and choreographer, is pushing the boundaries of his chosen art form, presenting to the world the wonder of classical ballet but with a modern twist. See video of the beautiful production at http://www.perthfestival.co.uk/event/romeo-and-juliet-ballet/

Comedy features prominently in this year’s programme with Greg Davies’ hotly anticipated debut stand-up show was a critically lauded sell-out smash hit at the 2010 Edinburgh festival, picking up a prestigious nomination for the Fosters Comedy Award (formerly the Perrier). You’ll already know him as the psychotic Head of Sixth Form, Mr Gilbert in “The Inbetweeners” (Ch4), from the new series of “Live at The Apollo” and “Have I Got News for You”, “Ask Rhod Gilbert” (BBC1) and “ Mock the Week”,”‘8 Out of 10 Cats” and “Never Mind the Buzzcocks”.

The nation’s favourite impressionist, Alistair McGowan from The Big Impression, will open this year’s Festival on Wednesday 18th May. Alistair resurrects his legendary celebrity impressions and introduces audiences to a host of new never-before-heard voices along the way – nobody does it better!

Jeremy Hardy best known for his work on Radio 4, notably on “News Quiz”,” I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” and “Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation” will perform in Perth Theatre on Saturday 28th May. In 2010, he published a book, “My Family and Other Strangers”, chronicling his desperate search for interesting ancestors.

Rainer Hersch’s Comedy Orchestra with the Tippett Quartet and RSAMD This is a fun, inclusive musical event that integrates top-notch stand-up comedy and witty musical arrangements into a polished classical concert and will be staged in Perth Concert Hall.

Penguin Cafe’s quietly insidious blends of catchy material, sophisticated skill and slightly surreal unpredictability have long been familiar. Originally dreamt up and fronted by Simon Jeffes until his death in 1997 – and also prompting David Bintley’s successful ballet ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Cafe – the group’s music has reappeared on the scene thanks to Jeffes’s son Arthur, who has added new pieces to the menu. They performed at the BBC Proms in 2010

Home-grown Scottish talent is also well represented with “Today Programme” presenter and author James Naughtie. Also Jimmie MacGregor’s Gathering of Songs, stories and famous folk!’ Jimmie talks about his life, the stories, songs and interviews with the likes of John Wayne and Tarzan. There will also be a traditional ceilidh with Trail West and a recital by Perth violinist Ben Norris, who will perform the latest of in the series of concerts performed by artists from Perth who have decided to make their careers in music. Perth Youth Orchestra and daily concerts by Perthshire Schools will also be special features.

Veteran performer and Edinburgh Festival Fringe stalwart Guy Masterson brings his acclaimed production of “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas to Perth Theatre

This year’s art exhibition will be Matisse – Drawing with Scissors. This follows last year’s stunning Andy Warhol show. This is an exhibition of lithographs of late works by Matisse from 1950-54. One of the 20th century’s most influential artists, his works are celebrated for their extraordinary richness and luminosity of colour. There will also be an exhibition by Ronald Forbes: The Nature of Things.

Paintings, digital collage and film works by Ronald Forbes who was Artist in Residence at the Scottish Crop Research Institute from 2006 to 2009.

The Festival has published a book about its colourful 40 year history written by respected music critic Conrad Wilson. This is available for sale from the Festival website, Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre, AK Bell Library, Art Gallery and Waterstones at £6.

Detailed information can be found on the Festival website www.perthfestival.co.uk Tickets go on sale on Monday 28th March online, by phone 01738 621031 and at the Box Office at Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre.

Source: Perth Festival of the Arts