Gergiev is the new Festival Patron

Last night at Swinfen Hall Hotel we launched the 2009 Festival to the Gold and Platinum members of the LFA. As is often the way at this time of year, there remain events that have yet to settle down, but on the whole it was our first opportunity to start talking openly about what is planned this July.

Last night also gave me the opportunity to announce that Valery Gergiev, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and artistic and general director of the Marinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, is the new Patron of the Lichfield Festival, finally filling the huge gap left when Patrick Lichfield died in November 2005.

A 34-year-old Gergiev made his British debut at the 1987 Lichfield Festival, and remembers his time here very well. Becoming our Patron is him returning the favour. Gergiev actually accepted our long-standing invitation last October, but trips to Australia and Christmas got in the way, so it has taken until now to release this news.

That an artist if Gergiev's international stature has accepted this honorary position is of enormous importance to Lichfield and the wider Midlands. That he is particularly keen to support our ongoing commitment to giving opportunities to rising talent is of key significance, and could lead to specific programming opportunities over the next decade. We do not present a formal Young Artists Platform, and we don't have an ongoing association with, say, BBC New Generation Artists, YCAT, Park Lane Group, or the Tillet Trust. Lichfield Festival just has a long history of independently backing young musicians with sometimes key opportunities that they might not otherwise get. Hopefully, with Gergiev's support, this programming thread will grow and resonate even further.