Some of the artists who will be in Perth for one of the oldest continuously-running arts festivals in Scotland have been revealed.
The 44th Perth Festival of the Arts will be held from May 21 to 31 in Perth Concert Hall and St John’s Kirk.
Announcements will be made in the coming months about rock concerts but well-known names confirmed for 2015 include Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, saxophonist Courtney Pine, broadcaster John Suchet, who will talk about Beethoven, Ronnie Scott’s All Star Quintet and the West End comedy show about Downton Abbey.
English Touring Opera will stage a new production of Puccini’s La boheme at Perth Concert Hall. This is a full production with scenery, costumes and the 25-player ETO orchestra. The production features a group of 12 young singers from Oakbank School in Perth, recruited especially to sing a children’s chorus of street urchins.
The Norwegian star trumpeter, Tine Thing Helseth, will play the Hummel Trumpet Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra from Manchester.
The Royal Marines Band, with musicians from Portsmouth and Scotland, will play the final concert, compered by John Suchet.
Scottish Opera bring their trailer tour to Perth where they will be performing free shows in their trailer, which is a mock-up of Glasgow’s Theatre Royal.
Tickets will go on sale on March 30. See www.perthfestival.co.uk for details.