Get arty in paradise

Young British pianist, Benjamin Grosvenor, takes centre stage at the 2008 Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts, leading a global list of performers. Held from Tuesday 15th January to Saturday 23rd February 2008, the Bermuda Festival is one of the island’s premiere cultural events.

Now in its 32nd year, the Bermuda Festival has grown to be one of the world’s leading artistic exchanges. Initially a celebration of music, today the festival includes an array of feted artists across a range of genres, with Grosvenor becoming one of the festival’s youngest ever soloists. The 2008 programme will be held at four venues across the island including City Hall Theatre in Hamilton and the Fairmont Southampton.

John A Ellison, Bermuda Festival co-founder and Chairman, says: “We are thrilled to have Benjamin Grosvenor on the bill. Without doubt, he is one of the most exciting young talents we have ever had perform at the Bermuda Festival and joins a great programme of artists from around the world for 2008.”

In 2004, aged just 11 years, Grosvenor won the keyboard section of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. Since then he has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in a concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, the New York Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall and the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro. As part of the Bermuda Festival, he plays the City Hall Theatre at 8pm on Saturday 2nd February 2008.

The Bermuda Festival opens on Tuesday 15th January 2008 with a gala performance by Tango Fire, the dance sensation from Buenos Aires. Other acts throughout the festival include: the Puppet State Theatre Company’s telling of The Man Who Planted Trees; Ragtime, an epic musical of American life; and Take 6, the American a cappella jazz group. Tickets for performances range from $30 to $60 for adults and $25 concession for students.

Located only six and a half hours from the UK, Bermuda is one of the world’s ultimate island destinations. With direct flights from London with British Airways and new twice weekly, low cost flights with Zoom Airlines, the pink beaches of Bermuda are within easy reach of UK travellers.

With a sub-tropical climate producing two distinctive seasons - spring (where golf and spa take centre stage) and summer (beach and sizzle!) - and temperatures in November to March averaging 60F (15.6C), Bermuda is a great year-round beach and activity destination.

A haven for golf, spa and water sports fans, Bermuda also regularly hosts world-class events including the Bermuda International Race Weekend (three-day running festival; annually, January), and the Bermuda Music Festival (annually, October).

For more information on the attractions and events of Bermuda, including the Bermuda Festival of Performing Arts, visit Bermudatourism.com.