ORGANISERS of an inaugural opera festival are counting down to an eagerly awaited event this month which will provide a week of music, theatre and education across the county.

Cumbria Opera Festival will kick off on September 4 and will run until September 11.

The event is being run by the Cumbria Opera Group, which was founded in 2016 to bring high quality opera, classical music and education to the fore.

“We’re delighted that the festival will combine some of the brightest young Cumbrian talent alongside world renowned operatic stars,” said the group’s artistic director Joe Davies.

Roderick Williams OBE will open the festival in Penrith before events are held in the town along with Appleby, Carlisle, Kendal, Ambleside and Grange-over-Sands.

The festival was due to make its debut last year but was postponed amid the pandemic.

“Tickets are selling very quickly so we advise people to book soon, particularly as audience numbers will be capped due to our COVID mitigations,” said Mr Davies.

Among the highlights will be an evening of opera at Appleby Public Hall on Wednesday, September 8, and renowned Cumbrian soprano and the group’s artistic patron Joan Rodgers CBE, “in conversation” at St Cuthbert’s Church in Carlisle on Friday, September 10.

For more information about the festival, and to buy tickets, visit www.cumbriaoperagroup.com.