EXCITING times lie ahead for the Nimbus Foundation with the launch of what promises to be a superb series of summer concerts at the spectacularly beautiful location at Wyastone Leys' estate.
Artistic Director William Boughton and Festival Manager Ian White believe that the Wyastone summer series will offer concert-goers a "total package "- a fantastic line-up of artists performing in the only designated concert hall in the area; an elegant new pavilion equipped with a licensed bar and serving supper and light refreshments, and the opportunity to picnic on the banks of the Wye and in the water meadow.
Mr Boughton said: "It's almost the Glyndebourne of Herefordshire but at a much reduced price - instead of £147 per ticket, you can come here for £7.50 a ticket."
Established in 1987 by the founders of Nimbus records, the Nimbus Foundation is a non profit-making organisation whose aim is to support the arts and promote live music events. The Foundation is one of four diverse enterprises contained within the grounds of Wyastone Leys, where over 180 people are employed, making Nimbus one of the area's largest employers.
As a conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton has made many recordings on the Nimbus label and had spent hours, dreaming of the possibilities which the estate had to offer.
"Now the dream is becoming a reality, I can hardly believe it.
"What I've tried to do is to develop a series that appeals to all sorts of different tastes - from classical music to world music and lighter music, " said Mr Boughton. "We've got people like Kit and the Widow and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett doing a review/cabaret - type programme.
"I would also like to develop more things for children but there is a difficulty with the geographical location in getting lots of children out here but we would like to do master classes and that sort of thing because with the fantastic artists that are coming here it's a wonderful opportunity to develop the indigenous music-making within Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. "
The series opens this Saturday (June 2nd) with a picnic concert featuring the celebrated sitar player, Anoushka Shankar,. daughter of the legendary Ravi Shankar.