As we emerge from the latest (and, we hope, the last) lockdown, two classical music events are set to brighten the early summer.

The Vache Baroque Festival, which runs at The Vache near Chalfont St Giles, made its debut last year in response to the impact of Covid-19 on the arts. Its 2021 programme opens on Sat 29 May with Coffee Baroque, featuring performances of The Character of a Coffee-House (anon.) and J. S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata. Coffee (or tea) and cake will be available.

The programme continues in August and September and includes readings from John Milton’s Paradise poems and performances of Handel’s pastoral opera Acis & Galatea. The Festival is working in partnership with dance troupe Birdgang and with outstanding heritage attraction Milton’s Cottage.

On Thu 10 June, the Chiltern Open Air Museum and Orlando Jopling are hosting Orlando’s Opera, an evening of performances of arias, duets and ensembles from a range of operas by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and more, with a few surprises thrown in…

This is a socially distanced, open-air event, so the organisers recommend that you bring blankets, cushions and/or folding chairs. A limited number of picnic chairs, tables and benches will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Photo courtesy of the Vache Baroque Festival