Following the success of the 2010 ‘City Bees’ project, in celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity, this year’s environmental focus is on birds and birdsong.
The concert programme is brimming with bird-inspired music, in particular mezzo-soprano Malin Christensson’s tribute to Jenny Lind, ‘The Swedish Nightingale’ (29 June) and The King’s Singers exploration of birds across the centuries (7 July).
Contemporary Australian composer David Lumsdaine’s works are heavily influenced by the sounds of nature, especially birdsong. Dusk Chorus, a magical installation of the natural soundscape of Australian wildlife (27 June) is just one of the composer’s works that appears in the Festival, which directly follows guitarist John Williams and the English Chamber Orchestra in the Guildhall Old Library.
Guided walks Birds in the City (2 July) and Hampstead Heath Wildfowl (10 July) are chances to spot the native birds of the capital and are led by avid birdwatchers.
Flock (27 June – 8 July), part of the Festival’s Education programme, will be an outdoor exhibition designed and created by young people and older adults from the City’s neighbouring boroughs, creatively exploring London’s birdlife. In addition, many of the Festival Procession (1 July) artworks will be inspired by our feathered friends.
The Festival placed eight beehives in key locations across the square mile in 2010. The bees have survived the winter and the hives are soon to be abuzz with activity again. Come summer, we invite you to sample the fruit of the bees’ labour in a special Honey Harvest (8 July).
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