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English Bach Festival
About us

ENGLISH BACH FESTIVAL TRUST

Hon Presidents: Albert Schweitzer, Igor Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein.
Patrons: Steve Beckley, Sir Harrison Birtwistle CH, Mrs Edmee Leventis,
Sir Roger Norrington, Lady Norrington , Mr Andrew Porter,
Sir Curtis Price, John Harrison, Sir John Tooley.

"One of the most distinguished and valuable musical organizations in the world today."
Igor Stravinsky

The English Bach Festival Trust is synonymous with the name of Lina Lalandi-Emery, the renowned harpsichordist and her husband Ralph Emery, founded in 1962; it has fulfilled a unique role in the musical life in Britain.
It has been in the forefront of new ideas that have then become part of the musical scene.
Was a pioneer for contemporary music in Britain: Messian, Stockhausen, Xenakis.
Providing opportunities for young artists remains central to its existence.

"We must consider Lina Lalandi a public benefactress."
Sunday Times

Pioneers since 1977 as 'guest company' at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the English Bach Festival breathes life to the operas of Purcell, Handel, Lully, Rameau, Gluck and presents them with magnificent costumes, elegant dance and the period instruments for which they were written.
It has given the opportunity to see great works outside the usual repertoire, many of them for the first time at the Opera House, including some premieres in our time.

"Ecstasy in a triumph of tradition."
Andrew Porter - The Observer

Productions have been acclaimed internationally at:

• Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as 'guest' company since 1977
• Linbury Studio Theatre, Covent Garden
• South Bank
• Sadler's Wells Theatre
• St. John's Smith Square
• Banqueting House, Palace of Whitehall
• Opéra Royal, Château de Versailles
• Monte Carlo, Salle Garnier
• Athens, Herodes Atticus, Antique Roman Theatre
• Paris, Rome, Granada, Seville, Madrid, Bologna, Barcelona, Edinburgh
• Château de Chambord, Blois, Herrenhausen and Le Grand Theatre de Reims.

"Le spectacle merveilleux de l'English Bach Festival."
Le Monde

Lina Lalandi-Emery, OBE, Founder & Director

After an international career as a harpsichordist, Lina Lalandi-Emery founded the English Bach Festival Trust in 1962. She is the director, chief administrator and responsible for research and all programme planning.
She was decorated by HM the Queen in 1975 as Officer of the British Empire, in 1979 was awarded in the Salon des Nobles, Château de Versailles, the French decoration of Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by Greece, the Gold Cross of the Phoenix and the Great Prize of Music by the Union Greek Theatre and Music Critics and Athens Municipality.