Professor Green, Marcus Du Sautoy, Rosie Boycott, Kirsty Lang, Kevin McCloud, Labrinth, Tim Pitman, The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company: these are just some of host of celebrity names from TV, film, literature, journalism and music who will be taking to the stage at Orchestra in a Field, for a stimulating all-day programme of talks and acoustic sessions in the covered comfort of the festival’s Talk Tent, complementing the world-class orchestral music on the Main Stage.Highlights of the Talk Tent programme include:

Marcus Du Sautoy, mathematician, trumpeter and one of the celebrities on BBC2’s acclaimed series Maestro, exploring the common ground between Maths and Music.

Rosie Boycott introducing 5 talks by writers and music industry luminaries including folk song collector Sam Lee, ‘Awakenings’ film score composer Dan Pemberton, and legendary record producer Joe Boyd who’s worked with everyone from Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Pink Floyd to REM and Billy Bragg.

Other highlights include the Talk Tent’s keynote debate sponsored by Google, and hosted by Kirsty Lang, on how music has been ‘democratised’ by the Internet; and a performance by Video Killed the Radio Star writer Bruce Woolley, introducing the weird and wonderful electronic instrument that is the Theremin: feature of many a 50s sci-fi movie and the Beach Boy’s Good Vibrations.

There will also be talks on ‘How to write the perfect pop-lyric’ by ex-Longpigs frontman and record producer for Florence and the Machine, Crispin Hunt, and an inspiring presentation by Rolf Gehlhaar on the ingenious musical instruments he has created for the disabled musicians of The British Paraorchestra, who will be making their debut performance on the Main Stage on Sunday 1^st July at 6pm.

On July 1^st the Talk Tent will also host a performance by The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, and the finals of a nationwide ‘Rap Slam’ (rap competition) judged by hip hop star Professor Green among other top music business names. The competition, which is still open to entries via Facebook until 22^nd June, is just one of the many ways in which young people can get involved with the festival. 

The Talk Tent is a major element in what will be a fascinating, multi-faceted festival of inspirational music, featuring everything from a world-class concert performance of Carmen to Tubular Bells, to a rap competition judged by Professor Green. There’ll be a performance of the explosive ‘1812 Overture’ by an orchestra made entirely from scrap, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet, Mussorgsky’s epic ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ with improvised responses from Goldfrapp and Portishead’s finest, and a debut performance by the new British Paraorchestra, to name just some of the festival’s programme highlights. 

Held in the sweeping parklands of Glastonbury Abbey, with its romantic ruins and ancient orchards, the event is the inspiration of Somerset-based Charles Hazlewood. A world-renowned conductor and the BBC’s ‘face of classical music’, Hazelwood is passionate about bringing world-class orchestral music to new audiences, and in new ways. 

“There is no other festival like this”, says Hazlewood. “No other festival can boast such a rich and eclectic programme or such an original line-up of performers, talks and workshops alongside some of the most well-known and best-loved classical orchestral works.

“There’s so much amazing music out there which people don’t have the time or opportunity to get to know. We want to change that. Our aim, quite simply, is to inspire people – to look at, hear, feel and think about music in new ways: to stretch at the boundaries of their musical knowledge, explore new things.”

Other attractions include a huge Kid’s Area complete with fairground and helter skelter, a vintage market, delicious local food and drink and the Tea Tent, with its own stage and an all day line-up of extraordinary local music talent. 

Full price day tickets are only £25 and £55 for a weekend ticket including camping at Worthy Farm, Pilton by kind permission of Michael Eavis, with a free shuttle bus and Park and Ride service running to and from the Abbey Grounds. Under 13s go free, and for students, concessions and under 18s, a weekend ticket including camping is £35 and a day ticket £18, making the event excellent value compared to other music festivals. 

“I think what we’re offering here with Orchestra in a Field just isn’t available anywhere else. We’ve got the production values of Glyndebourne and the chilled out atmosphere of Glastonbury. Plus we’ve got delicious food from a host of quality local producers, a Talk Tent, huge Kids Area, you name it! It’s perfect family entertainment.”

Tickets are now on sale via TICKETLINE. Tickets can also be bought in person from Glastonbury Abbey Gift Shop in Magdalene Street, among other local outlets. 

MAIN STAGE PROGRAMME

Saturday 30th June

Sunday 1st July