Tilford Bach Festival

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Tilford Bach Festival

The Tilford Bach Festival was founded in 1952 and is dedicated to the performance of the music of JS Bach and his contemporaries on period instruments.

Artistic Director, Adrian Butterfield.

15/07/2026

As we look back on the Tilford Bach Festival 2026, we would like to say one enormous ✨thank you✨.

To our wonderful musicians, singers and dancers.
To our volunteers, whose hard work behind the scenes made everything possible.
And to every single person who joined us over the Festival weekend - thank you for your support, enthusiasm and warm encouragement.

Thank you for being part of it. We very much look forward to welcoming you back next year.

13/07/2026

Our Festival concluded with a joyful celebration of Baroque music and some remarkable young talent comprising the ensemble "Harmony of Time", founded and led by violinist Sara Matović.

It was a pleasure to welcome the next generation of outstanding musicians for "Joy of Baroque", performing music by Corelli, Leclair, Bach, Geminiani and Vivaldi.

A special mention for flautist, Matas Bagdonavicius, who performed, amongst other pieces, Jean-Marie Leclair's Concerto in C Major - one of the less well-known pieces from the flute repertoire, but an absolute tour de force, played with great panache. Each of the other members of the ensemble had their moments to shine, whether in one of the concerti or as part of a smaller ensemble.

The future of Baroque performance is certainly in very safe hands.

Here are a few photo highlights from a wonderful finale to this year's Festival.

We hope you enjoy looking back on the evening as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you.

10/07/2026

There is nothing quite like an interval at All Saints Church. ✨

A festival night in Tilford is defined by those magical moments between the music—spilling out onto the green, sharing drinks under the summer sky, catching up with old friends, and dissecting a sublime piece of Bach.

Thank you to everyone who filled the church with such incredible warmth and community spirit on Saturday night.

Take a look through today’s gallery—perhaps you'll spot yourself mid-conversation! 📸

07/07/2026

Saturday evening brought an extraordinary, powerful highlight to All Saints Church.

The London Handel Players, Pegasus, and our magnificent soloists gave an unforgettable performance of Bach’s intense but joyful Easter Oratorio and his moving Cantata BWV 21. Together, they took us on a profound musical journey from sombre reflection to triumphant joy.

A huge thank you to our soloists, Hilary Cronin, Hugh Cutting, Sam Boden, and Edward Grint, for lending their exceptional voices to such a dramatic evening.

Here are a few captured moments that we’d love to share with you.

If you were in the pews with us, please share your favourite movements or thoughts in the comments below!

06/07/2026

There's something rather special about Festival evenings in Tilford.

Friends catching up before the concert, programmes being studied over a glass of wine, familiar faces returning year after year, and new visitors discovering the Festival for the first time.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for "Invitation to the Dance" and helped create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Were you there? We'd love you to tag yourself or your friends and tell us what you enjoyed most about the evening.

04/07/2026

The shoes were flying! 💃✨

One of the absolute highlights of Invitation to the Dance was seeing the Aldridge Theatre transform into a bustling ballroom after the main performance. Under the expert guidance of Mary Collins and Steven Player, our audience stepped back in time to discover just how joyful (and energetic!) Baroque dancing can be.

It was wonderful to see generations blending on the dance floor – especially our fantastic younger dancers!

Were you one of them? See if you can spot your dance moves in our photos, and don't forget to tag your friends!

03/07/2026

✨ Invitation to the Dance opened this year's Tilford Bach Festival in glorious style. ✨

The London Handel Players, together with the wonderful Mary Collins and Steven Player, transported us to the elegant world of Baroque dance with music by Bach, Handel, Lully, Rameau, Vivaldi and many more.

From the opening notes to the final Chaconne, it was an evening full of colour, energy and wonderful musicianship. And seeing so many people stay afterwards to join the dance workshop made it even more special. The energy in the Aldridge Theatre was electric!

Here are a few of our favourite moments from the performance.

Feel free to share your favourite memories from the evening in the comments.

17/06/2026

🎻 THIS SATURDAY: DRAMA, JOY AND POWER OF BACH

Tilford Bach Festival invites you to experience one of the great masterpieces of Baroque music: Bach's Easter Oratorio, a work of celebration, drama and soaring beauty.

Imagine a church filled with glorious voices, brilliant instrumental playing and the uplifting sound world that has inspired audiences for nearly 300 years.

Performed by the acclaimed London Handel Players, Pegasus and an exceptional team of soloists – Hilary Cronin, Hugh Cutting, Sam Boden and Edward Grint – this is a rare opportunity to hear Bach's music performed with both precision and passion.

The programme also includes Cantata 21, one of Bach's most moving works, taking listeners on an emotional journey from sorrow and uncertainty to hope, joy and triumph.

📍 All Saints Church, Tilford
📅 Saturday 20 June, 7.30pm

Whether you are a lifelong classical music lover or simply curious to discover something special, we would be delighted to welcome you.

www.tilfordbachfestival.org/tickets

15/06/2026

WHAT DID BAROQUE PEOPLE DO FOR FUN?

They danced.

Join the London Handel Players, together with acclaimed dancers Mary Collins and Steven Player, for an evening where music leaps off the page and onto the dance floor.

Watch elegant court dances performed to music by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Rameau... and if you're feeling adventurous, stay afterwards and try the steps yourself.

Children who love dancing are especially welcome.

📍Aldridge Theatre, Frensham Heights School, Rowledge, GU10 4EA
🗓 Friday 19 June, 7.30pm

Book your tickets:
www.tilfordbachfestival.org/event-details/invitation-to-the-dance

07/06/2026

BACH AT HIS MOST DRAMATIC

Bach's Easter Oratorio is unlike any of his other great sacred works.

Rather than a narrator telling the story, four biblical characters step forward through a series of vivid recitatives and arias, creating a work of remarkable immediacy and emotional power.

Performed by the London Handel Players, Pegasus and an outstanding team of soloists, this promises to be one of the highlights of the Festival.

Saturday 20 June, 7.30 pm | All Saints Church, Tilford

Reserve your seats:
www.tilfordbachfestival.org/programme

Address

Tilford Road
Farnham
GU102DD

Website

https://www.tilfordbachfestival.com/

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